Below is the final version of Joey's eulogy/celebration that Letricia and I used yesterday. We used three copies of the eulogy, Letricia's at the podium, one behind the curtain, and one on the podium by the microphone stand in front of the curtain. Not everything was said verbatim, as improv and fluidity is a necessity for a good show. 95% of what is below was written from 6 am to 6 pm Thursday, the remaining 5% was added the day of.
We worried that our family and friends would not understand. But... we knew that Joey would approve. Ultimately, everyone at the service was great, understood, participated, and celebrated Joey's life.
Thank you again my beautiful and ever supportive wife, Letricia.
Jose Luis Medina - Eulogy – January 29, 2021
[PLAY STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN] [CLOTH, SHIRT, BLACK TIE, NO JACKET, START FROM BACK OF ROOM, ENTER WRESTLING STYLE, SALUTE JOEY STONE COLD STYLE]
[WALK UP TO MICROPHONE AND ADDRESS AS YOU WOULD A “NORMAL” EULOGY]
Good evening everyone, my name is George Medina, Joey’s uncle. On behalf of Greg Medina III, Sonny, Ricardo and Angie Cervantes and Francisco and Alma Meza, I would like to thank every one of you for being here today in honor and celebration of Jose Luis Medina. Joey. Joey went by three names, his online gaming name DLOCDABOSS, his we can’t get him to wake up out of bed name Lil’Bear, and of course Joey. Now, not to bring everyone down, but Sweet Mother of Mercy our families have been hit hard these last few months. At my father Greg’s funeral and at my grandmother, Tina’s funeral, May They Rest in Peace, Joey, Sonny, Ramiro Rene, and I talked, like we all do, about life and death. And on the subject of our funeral, our answer was always the same. “I want people to be happy. To have fun. To tell my stories and celebrate my life.” So, with that in mind, try to keep up… And that’s the bottom line cause JOEY MEDINA Said So! [PLAY STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN] [PRESENT WRETLEMANIA X-SEVEN SHIRT TO SONNY]
[WALK BEHIND CURTAIN, CHANGE CLOTHES to BOWTIE, BLACK JACKET]
You’ve heard of the Oscars, the Emmys, the Tonys, well tonight we have THE JOEYS! Stand by for the show…
[Play HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD] [ENTER AS GEORGE MEDINA HOST]
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to – The Joeys! I am George Medina, your host for tonight. Tonight is a special night, for tonight is a celebration of Joey. And this celebration will be a whole lot more fun with audience participation. Luckily, we have some signs to help you with your part. Let’s practice…Here’s your host, George Medina (Applause sign), (OHHH Sign) (AHHH Sign). Perfect, now let’s hear it for my beautiful assistant, Mimi. [LOUD, HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD] & (BIG APPLAUSE SIGN). Tonight you will hear about a few of Joey’s favorite things. This is just a tiny glimpse into Joey’s world. And even if these stories are not directly linked to you, I hope that you find yourself in a least one of these stories. Enjoy the night…[Play Circle of Life] [WALK BEHIND CURTAIN, CHANGE CLOTHES, SUNGLASSES, FLANNEL SHIRT, VIRGIN MARY SHIRT, COMB HAIR SLICK BACK]
Your first presenter of the night.… Vato Loco.[Play LOWRIDER] [ENTER AS VATO LOCO]
“Eh, orale, you got it. Que pasa mi gente? Welcome to Los Joey’s. Please excuse my outfit, I was gonna wear mi zuit suit, pero my plancha broke. [LAUGH SIGN] N-E-ways… I’m your first presenter Vato Loco, you might know me from such films as Candy Cane Train, Los Ups and Downs, and the 1992 Independent Film Festival Runner Up – Sparkles in the Wind. [APPLAUSE SIGN] Orale. As you all know, Joey loved movies. All kinds of movies, comedies, dramas, horror, gangster, movies. When he was a chavalito, I’d take him with me to the Blockbuster. “Get any movie you want.” [Mime Joey walking away and coming back] “Hijole, Lion King again!” By the time he was a teenager, he didn’t even care where he saw the movie, downloading them on the down low, you know. If Joey recommended a movie, it was a 110% guarantee. Pues, well, without further ado… Tonight’s first category is, Joey’s Favorite Gangster Movie Line To Say In Real Life. The envelope please. [Grab envelope] And the nominees are:
American Me, spoken by Big Happy: “Can I talk to you ese?” “Yeah, come here, que trais carnal?” “You thinking of letting him in, ese?” “I told you he’s my best crime partner.” “He ain’t Mexican ese.” (Applause SIGN) Blood In Blood Out, Bound by Honor, spoken by Miklo: “Vatos locos forever, ese.” (Applause SIGN) ORALE! Scarface, spoken by Tony Montana: “Say allo to my little friend.” (Applause SIGN) All right, all right, maybe not as good as Vatos Locos forever, pero maybe I’m a little bit biased.
And the winner is… [DRUMROLL SIGN] (Look up in amazed confusion) Ladies and gentlemen we have a late entry. And the winner is… [Play DON’T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD]… “Don’t look at me Little Puppet.” spoken by Big Puppet. American Me! [TAKE AWARD] I accept this award on behalf of Big Puppet. I’d like to thank all the little puppets and big puppets of the world. We did it!… (As you walk out, look at trophy and realize and question out loud, “Is this a kid’s soccer trophy.”) [WALK OUT TOWARD WRONG DIRECTION, LOOK UP AND REALIZE YOU ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY AND HEAD BACK]
[GEORGE WALKS BEHIND THE CURTAIN, CHANGE CLOTHES TO PLAIN SHIRT, CASUAL JACKET, FIX HAIR BACK TO NORMAL]
[FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN] As the night continued, and we learned about Joey’s favorite things in life, songs he liked, like Simple Man [APPLAUSE SIGN], Joey’s favorite food was Yes. [LAUGH SIGN], favorite places Mountains de Mexico [AHHH SIGN], And the winner for funniest prank – Jump Scaring his Grandma 100s of times [LAUGH SIGN], you know these stories, share them.
It is now hours later and we get to this part of the night…
Because we all know Joey was a night owl. Please welcome the host of the Late Late Late Into The Late Night Show, Earl E. Bird.
[Play LATE NIGHT SHOW] [ENTER AS EARL E. BIRD]
Hello everyone, my name is Earl E. Bird and it is way past my bedtime. [Play NIGHT CRICKETS] Folks allow me to get serious for a moment. As you all know, earlier this week we lost one of the greats. You all know of whom I speak, Joey Medina. For many of us, Joey was not only a friend, he was family. Being a part of Joey’s family meant that at one point or the other you were going to be up at 2 in the morning talking to Joey. This is my favorite late-night story. The year was 2016, POKEMON GO was in full swing. At the dentist in Richmond, one Wednesday afternoon, I find out I need a root canal. Turns out ignoring the tooth pain for about a year and it now stung me like rusty needles in my mouth, NOT a good idea. [Play NIGHT CRICKETS] The dentist gives me two options, “We can see you 3 weeks from now, here in Richmond or tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM at our office by NASA Road 1.” In the interest of time, I’ll fast forward. Joey has agreed to be my driver for after the root canal. Wednesday night, Joey, Sammy, and I are staying the night at the Hampton Inn, times were good back then, a few blocks from NASA Road 1. We’ve already been Pokemon Hunting at the Galveston Sea Wall, we ate dinner at the Golden Corral and we are now back in our room, it’s close to 11 PM. I fall asleep to Sammy watching TV and Joey, click click clicking, texting on his phone. At around 2:30 AM, I wake up to hushed voices. Joey is talking on speaker to one of his friends. “Shhh, hey, hey, I got to whisper.” “What?” “Shh, shh, shh, I got to whisper. Whisper.” I say nothing and try to go back to sleep. “Whisper, hey, whisper!” Giggles and talking continues. By 3 AM, “He’s sleeping, I got to whisper.” “YOU WANNA WHISPER A LITTLE BIT LOUDER.” “Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry.” And as I’m falling asleep again, “I gotta whisper softer.” Needless to say, Joey doesn’t wake up at 6 in the morning. Wake up Lil’Bear. I drive myself to the dentist, get the root canal, and pretend Joey is waiting for me outside as I walk out the lobby. I get back to the hotel, 9:20 AM, free breakfast at the Hampton Inn is almost over. “Hey you guys! Wake up.” Joey, “What time is it?” Sammy and Joey ate. And in the end, Joey was there for me. Joey drove us home, tucked me into bed, and went home to sleep.
[Play SIMPLE MAN]
We’ll be right back…
[WALK BEHIND CURTAIN, CHANGE CLOTHES, TAKE OFF CASUAL JACKET]
Welcome back, George Medina, also known as OneOfEL… [ENTER AS GAMER GEORGE]
[Play FORTNITE DANCE]
We have come to the last award of the night. and it is the DLOCDABOSS’ ALL TIME FAVORITE GAME AWARD. (OHHH SIGN) And the nominees are… Fortnite, Ark Survival, Pokemon Go, there a few more nominees, but I’m going to stop, because we all know DLOCs favorite all time game. But before I announce the winner, I want to thank you for being a great audience. Give yourselves a round of applause. (APPLAUSE SIGN) I hope you feel Joey here tonight. If you need him, talk to him, he is here for you. Watch a movie, sing a song, joke and laugh with one another. And as Joey said, “Remember the light in the dark.”
The DLOCDABOSS’ ALL TIME FAVORITE GAME AWARD goes to… Halo! (BIG APPLAUSE SIGN)
We are going to play the entire Halo Theme, it is about three and a half minutes long. In this time, I ask you take the time to remember Joey. To hold him in your heart. Honor him by being good to one another. Yandel, Sophia, and to all of Joey’s friends and family, from me, Mimi, and Sammy, our door is always open to you.
We hope you have enjoyed The Joeys! Our honor and celebration of Joey.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Halo Theme song. We love you Joey.
[Play HALO THEME]
At this time, I want to open the floor to anyone else who created a half hour special for Joey.
But seriously, if there is anything you want to say for Joey, stand or sit right where you are and feel free to speak.
