Posted on 13 November 2008.
Jesse with his Mother
A friend of mine from Naples lost his life on Tuesday night. He was stabbed to death. His name was Jesse Van Davis.
“He was a good kid,” Davis’ former coach recalled. “You could be having a bad day, and he’d walk by the office and make a funny face or gesture and get you out of a bad mood.”
More about Jesse
Whenever I’d see Jesse we would usually freestyle. He sounded good off the top of his head and was a true fan of hip-hop. Jesse was the first person to play me music by Plies back in 2005/2006 and he was singing Lil Wayne’s praises way before MTV (etc) jumped on the bandwagon.
UPDATE: Over 100 Celebrate the Life of Jesse Van Davis
R.I.P. JVD
I’ll be keeping the Davis family in my thoughts and prayers. Please do the same.
This post was written by:
Chris Franco - who has written 3425 posts.
Founder and Executive Editor of Hiptics. I launched Hiptics in 2008. I spent the last 4 years at Denison University where I hosted a weekly hip-hop radio show on 91.1 WDUB (one of America's Top 20 Most Popular College Radio Stations). I also served as Public Relations Chairman, Program Director, and Webmaster of the station. I genuinely love hip-hop, and have been involved in nearly every aspect of the culture starting with selling my own music in Middle School (haha, true story). I won the Culture Jam Freestyle Battle at Denison both times I participated. I brought Wiz Khalifa, EbGb, and D.Julien to campus for a free Hiptics show in January 2010. I've interviewed everyone from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to the CEO of Death Row Records. I've DJ'd for Wiz Khalifa and Sam Adams, as well as at countless parties and campus events. There's a lot more to be said, but I don't want to be THAT guy. My point is this: I'm not just another one of these hip-hop bloggers. If the Internet didn't exist, I'd still be in the game.
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This is a tragedy for all of those who knew jesse. We can only hope that the person who did this will be locked away forever.
Rest In Peace
Such a tragedy. R.I.P. Jesse. its a shame this all happened because of a stupid fight. The kid that did this turned himself in already, he got his commin.
I love my babi with all my heart and deep down inside i know this was not his time just not yet… It like a bad dream i can not wake up from. Baby I love and ima always be your Jamaican Princess.
Ill be with you soon bae until then please watch over me. I really do not know what i am going to do without you. It was hard just being in Georgia and you in Florida NOW this is further than anything please stay by my side and help me through this.
I love you babii.
Your Queen
Chanel Davis
Jesse was a friend of mine although he was a few years older than me hip hop made us friends one day i was beatboxin in the hallway and he told me “boy that shit is dope” haha i wont forget it after that he would freestyle to some beats he was a good kid and friend may he R.I.P.
Franco, im glad to see you have something up here on jesse. Jesse was more of a brother than a friend of mine, played football and basketball together, and have countless memories. Im still in complete shock and don’t know what to think. But all i really want to say is Jesse would want us to celebrate his life, not feel sorrow or think negative. He was the happiest go lucky kid, and could always put a smile on your face. So celebrate who he was, cause you know hes lookin down chessin like he always was. R.I.P jvd, i will miss you so much. ” ahhaa jus talk to em baby”-jvd
Thanks for the comments. You make a great point, Shane.
I updated this post with a link to a new Naples Daily News article talking about the vigil. Jon is quoted in the article.
Its so sad to see young adults pass away like this.. I didnt know him but I knew Sydni Rounds (from Naples) and just to think that they had their whole lives ahead of them and for something so precious to be taken away in seconds just breaks my heart..
May his Soul Rest In Peace, his family will be in my prayers<3
& RIP Sydni I love you, always.
~ I actually knew Jesse in elementary school at lely. he was even nice then. it’s sad to know he’s left this earth at such a young age and in such a tragic way. I hope everything well for his family and friends. lots of love and peace always and forever to the davis family.
VERSE]
I can’t believe that he gone
When he left he took apart of me
Forgive me, It’s so hard to speak
See we went from the days of playing hide and seek
To being faced with the day I had to watch him leave
And though memories fade his face is on my arm
So he’ll live on after the grave
Ya’ll remember him for acting thug
I see highwaters, loafers and a Jackson glove
We were so young
Nothing could get us apart
Not even death
He’ll always live in my heart
And Auntie, you know there was nothing that I wouldn’t have did for him
I was willing to die for him
Now I want to live for him
With every breath that I’m breathing tonight
If you hear me, I promise your death will lead me to life
It’s time for a change start living it right
I’m ready to make a decision for Christ
I want to give Him my life
[HOOK]
Thank – You – Lord
I’ve been running away from you too long
But I’m coming, I hear you calling me, saying come back home
[Spoken]
Amen Amen. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, that even in the midst of such an untimely tragedy, the glory of God is revealed in this young man giving his life to Christ. And right now we have a special request from the family – that a young man share his heart. Receive at this time Marcus Gray
[VERSE]
My heart goes out to the family first of all
Ya’ll need help? Don’t hesitate to call
I’ll be right here
If it’s just for a prayer to God or just to talk I’m right here even just to wipe tears
But what I wanna say
There’s gonna come a day
For each person to die and then to face God
None of us know when it’s our time to go
So while we all still alive
Just repent and embrace God
Not these lie’s these guys telling all on the block
The same lies in disguise that’s got this man shot
It’s hard ya’ll when we at this type of funeral
Cause usually the eulogy is where we talk nice
And when we leave you sell weed and chop bricks
And turn tricks until something like this, flip on the lights
Guess what I’m saying it’s the same old song
He loves you so much so come – back – home
[Spoken]
Now according to our text in 2 Corinthians Chapter 1 – we have the promise of God that He is a comforter in not just some, but all of our afflictions. Yes, and those of us who have experienced the abundant comfort through our relationship with Christ, are equip by the grace of God to assist in comforting this family. And, yes, church we want to wrap our arms around them and serve them at this time of bereavement. Not just in word, but indeed also.
Now as I look over all of these young faces in this Sanctuary. There is no doubt you have been touched by the life of this young man and gripped by his death. Yes, we are forced to hold our attention at death today – though in our generation, life, pleasures, pursuits, having big things and living big dreams are more appealing topics of conversation and thought. But today, we face with one undisputed absolute truth of our own mortality. But in 2 Corinthians Chapter 1 verse 9, God gives us two reasons for us to face death and our powerlessness against it. Number 1, that we should not trust in ourselves. And number 2, that we should trust in God who raises the dead.
Now understand, we are not victims of death, but death according to James is the result of our sin and rebellion against God. But we are not left without hope – for God sent His Son Jesus Christ who took up all our sins and died on the cross. And according to Hebrews defeated death through His resurrection for all who would believe. Chris Johnson has not died in vain. There are some in this room, who through the glory of Christ, this day will be redeemed
[HOOK]
Thank – You – Lord
I’ve been running away from you too long
But I’m coming, I hear you calling me, saying come back home
(You ought to come back home, you ought to come back)
Man…..auntie i miss jess and tony said that he gonna come see you at the house over the weekend and tell lacressa to call meeh i lub ya auntie i miss ya
Looking foward 2 another day as GOD has taken away so many of my people.
The Folded Page
There’s a poem by an unknown author.
It’s called “The Folded Page.”
It goes something like this:
“Up in an old attic,
as the raindrops patter down,
I sat paging through an old schoolbook –
Dusty, tattered, and brown.
“I came to a page that was folded down.
And across it was written in a childish hand:
“The teacher says to leave this for now,
‘Tis hard to understand.”
I unfolded the page and read.
Then I nodded my head and said,
‘The teacher was right; now I understand.’
‘There are lots of pages in the book of life
That are hard to understand.
All we can do is fold them down and write:
“There are lots of pages in the book of life
that are hard to understand.
All we can do is fold them down and write:
‘The teacher says to leave this for now,
‘Tis hard to understand.”
“Then someday — maybe only in heaven –
We will unfold the pages again,
Read them, and say,
“The teacher was right; now I understand.’”
When it comes to the death of a loved one –
Though complicated and less than perfect,
About all we can do is fold down the page and write,
“The teacher says to leave this for now,
‘Tis hard to understand.”