The late Jamal Nganga was born on April 26th, 1997, in Silver Spring, MD. As a child, Jamal found interest in sports. He played little league football throughout his middle school years and became passionate about playing basketball. Jamal played in AAU tournaments around the country where he gained public recognition for his skills.

As Jamal continued to develop in his adolescent years, it was obvious Jamal had a love and passion to help people. His peers looked up to him and he was embraced as the leader amongst his peers. Jamal established a bond of brotherhood with his best friends.

When Jamal’s family and friends learned of Jamal’s death, there was a tremendous sense of devastation. During his memorial, his parents were amazed by the kind words and heartfelt memories shared by his friends. They shared memories about how Jamal provided support and unconditional love during their challenging times. One of his closest friends shared a story about how Jamal saved his life. The young man stated, “I was going through some dark times at one point and l wanted to commit suicide. Jamal persuaded me not to do it – Jamal saved my life”.

It’s hard to imagine someone of Jamal’s character, his love for people, and his role as a support to his friends suffering in silence. Despite how his family and friends perceived him, Jamal unselfishly put others first as he was battling his own challenges.

It was heartbreaking to know Jamal did not feel he had the resources or individuals in his life with who he could share his challenges and thoughts of suicide. He truly suffered in silence. Jamal Nganga was laid to rest on November 30, 2017.