Davon Michael Cruz

CRUZ , Davon Michael Davon Michael Cruz, was born on June 27, 1980 in Hammonton, New Jersey, first born child of Carmen Cruz Jones. He suddenly departed this world on January 1, 2011 to be with the Lord. Affectionately known to some as "Butch", he spent most of his childhood in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey where he attended the public school system before moving to Glen Burnie, Maryland. Davon loved to play the drums and taught himself by banging on pots and pans as a baby. He would later use his skills while attending church with his grandparents in Egg Harbor City. He gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized at an early age in the Church of the Living God, under the pastorate of Bishop C.C. Mays. A graduate of Glen Burnie Senior High School in 1998, Davon went on to attend Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia where he received his bachelor's degree of science in Information Systems Management in 2002. Davon was an accomplished athlete in both football and track, receiving numerous awards and trophies in both high school and college. As a member of the Bridgewater College Eagles, Davon became an All-American at Running Back. He helped to lead Bridgewater to the Stagg Bowl in 2001, and was a key player in their success. The walls of Nininger Hall at BC are still covered with pictures of #15, where he is still listed as holding records in Rushing, All-Purpose, and Scoring. Shortly after graduating college, Davon then went on to play football in the European Football league for the Lazio Marines in Italy. He was most recently employed as an IT Help Desk Technician at LMI in McLean, VA, where he was said to be loved and appreciated by management, co-workers, and customers. Davon also worked as a Personal Trainer. Davon had an infectious smile that would truly light up any room he was in, and his laugh was unforgettable. Those who were blessed to know him were well aware of his love for the Philadelphia Eagles- truly a passionate and diehard fan. Everyone who knew Davon loved him because that is just the kind of effect he had on anyone who crossed his path. Newly engaged, Davon and his fiancé were excited to start planning their wedding for the summer of 2012, after Chris returned from her tour in Bahrain. He leaves to cherish his memory: his mother, Carmen Cruz Jones and her husband Vance of Glen Burnie, MD; two sisters, Nicole Cruz Thompson and her husband Mario of Atlanta, GA., and April Clark of Glen Burnie, MD; fiancé, Chris Anderson of Hanover, MD; step-father, John Clark of Los Angles, CA.; grandmother, Ernestine Cruz of Egg Harbor City, NJ; niece, Briana Cruz; nephew, Emmanuel Dyson; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and many, many friends. He is predeceased by his dearly beloved grandfather, Francisco Cruz.
Viewing will be from 10am-7pm on Thursday, January 6, 2011 at Estep Funeral Home, 1300 Eutaw Place, Baltimore, MD 21217. Wake from 10-11am on Friday, January 7, 2011, with funeral service directly following at Empowering Believers Church, 7566 East Howard Road, Glen Burnie, MD 21060. Internment at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Brooklyn, MD. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Davon's name to his families college scholarship fund: "The Beatrice Mays Scholarship Fund", c/o Larkey Mays, 1301 Washington Avenue, Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215.