R.I.P. Coach Justin "Studder" Cason
you are in heaven now but we will never forget you.
Justin was one of our Coaches please continue to keep his family in your prayers.
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FOR A DEAR FRIEND, JUSTIN “STUDDER” CASON
December 11, 2012
Long Beach, California
...
Antonio Gilbreath
Justin “Studder” Cason was a beloved Son,
Husband, Father and Friend to countless individuals who were blessed to know him
in this lifetime. Born December 13, 1974, he went home to be with the Lord just
two days before his thirty-eighth birthday.
Social media networks quickly
filled with love laced memorial testimonies to the magnetic life of Justin as
well as heartfelt words being written about the news of his passing. I called
and spoke to Duke Givens who recalled, only three months earlier being at the
Long Beach Boxing and Fitness Gym when Justin, his daughter and youngest son
came in. Justin asked Duke to show his children how to correctly punch the heavy
bag.
Duke recalled his children stepping away as his children began to
punch the heavy bags within the Gym. Unexpectedly, Justin then turned to him,
looked him squarely in the eyes, and then lowered the boom as he explained that
he had a medical condition which doctors deemed fatal. He paused, and then
continued, explaining that his doctors expected him to have only six months to
live.
Duke paused, and swallowed hard as he struggled to maintain his
composure. Justin simply smiled, then looked Duke directly in his eyes once
more. “Duke, I’ve made my peace with the Lord,” he said. “And everything is
going to be okay.” Justin then looked up from their conversation and motioned
for his children to come over. He then began to laugh as he playfully slap boxed
with them.
Duke looked on from a distance, overwhelmed by a numbing sense
of powerlessness. It was at that moment that he knew that Justin was truly in
God’s hands.
It would be a month later from this encounter when Duke
and Justin and their wives would get together to attend Justin’s brother
Melvin’s birthday party. Justin was in the best of spirits, laughing and
reminiscing about their childhood, Duke recalls. What is most important here is
that Justin knew the Lord, and knew that he was going to live past this physical
life. At his brother’s birthday party, Justin went on to confess that he wanted
his children to serve the Lord, as he spoke life into his children futures, in
Jesus name.
“We would see each other for the last time three weeks
later,” Duke said. “He got me a Poly helmet, to use in the documentary. He told
me to make sure to finish this project for all the people in our neighborhood
who are losing their lives to gang violence, and to do it in Jesus Name!”
To all of our loved ones having to endure this tragic loss of a dear friend
and family member, we would like to leave you with a scripture:
1 John
3:20: For If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all
things.”
Duke and I would also extend our prayers for the Cason family
and children, and if there’s anything we are able to do within our power, please
don’t hesitate to call upon us.
May the comfort of the Lord be upon us
all, especially the Cason family in this hour, in Jesus name. Amen.
Written by Antonio Gilbreath with Duke Givens
FOR A DEAR FRIEND, JUSTIN “STUDDER” CASON
December 11, 2012
Long Beach, California
...
Antonio Gilbreath
Justin “Studder” Cason was a beloved Son,
Husband, Father and Friend to countless individuals who were blessed to know him
in this lifetime. Born December 13, 1974, he went home to be with the Lord just
two days before his thirty-eighth birthday.
Social media networks quickly
filled with love laced memorial testimonies to the magnetic life of Justin as
well as heartfelt words being written about the news of his passing. I called
and spoke to Duke Givens who recalled, only three months earlier being at the
Long Beach Boxing and Fitness Gym when Justin, his daughter and youngest son
came in. Justin asked Duke to show his children how to correctly punch the heavy
bag.
Duke recalled his children stepping away as his children began to
punch the heavy bags within the Gym. Unexpectedly, Justin then turned to him,
looked him squarely in the eyes, and then lowered the boom as he explained that
he had a medical condition which doctors deemed fatal. He paused, and then
continued, explaining that his doctors expected him to have only six months to
live.
Duke paused, and swallowed hard as he struggled to maintain his
composure. Justin simply smiled, then looked Duke directly in his eyes once
more. “Duke, I’ve made my peace with the Lord,” he said. “And everything is
going to be okay.” Justin then looked up from their conversation and motioned
for his children to come over. He then began to laugh as he playfully slap boxed
with them.
Duke looked on from a distance, overwhelmed by a numbing sense
of powerlessness. It was at that moment that he knew that Justin was truly in
God’s hands.
It would be a month later from this encounter when Duke
and Justin and their wives would get together to attend Justin’s brother
Melvin’s birthday party. Justin was in the best of spirits, laughing and
reminiscing about their childhood, Duke recalls. What is most important here is
that Justin knew the Lord, and knew that he was going to live past this physical
life. At his brother’s birthday party, Justin went on to confess that he wanted
his children to serve the Lord, as he spoke life into his children futures, in
Jesus name.
“We would see each other for the last time three weeks
later,” Duke said. “He got me a Poly helmet, to use in the documentary. He told
me to make sure to finish this project for all the people in our neighborhood
who are losing their lives to gang violence, and to do it in Jesus Name!”
To all of our loved ones having to endure this tragic loss of a dear friend
and family member, we would like to leave you with a scripture:
1 John
3:20: For If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all
things.”
Duke and I would also extend our prayers for the Cason family
and children, and if there’s anything we are able to do within our power, please
don’t hesitate to call upon us.
May the comfort of the Lord be upon us
all, especially the Cason family in this hour, in Jesus name. Amen.
Written by Antonio Gilbreath with Duke Givens
