Braxton Long

Long, Braxton
Braxton "Super Braxton" Long, 8, of Reynoldsburg, went home to dance with Jesus, after a long courageous battle with cancer, on Monday, July 24, 2017. Preceded in death by aunt Aubrey, great grandmas Opal Long and Deanna Storch. He is survived by loving parents, Josh and Brittany Long; sisters, Emberly and Gracie; aunt, Courtney Hughes; uncles, Mason Hughes and Kaleb (Kellie) Long; grandparents, Brett and Tracy Hughes and Dawn and Michael Long; great-grandparents, Orville and Martha Jarrell, Charles Hughes, Darwin Long, and Lawrence and Janet Hayman; many great aunts, uncles, and cousins; a host of loving family and friends. "When you were growing you found joy that never dimmed. Joy that could only come from Jesus, for during this time you would fight your toughest battles. But no matter how hard, it never wiped that crooked grin from your face. You never complained and never stopped dancing your happy dance. You loved nerf gun wars and shaving cream art and shooting paint across the room with syringes, all from a hospital bed. You fought to do things you were told you might never do again after extensive brain surgery, like run and play basketball and soccer, and ride your bike. You didn't care if you didn't score any points or weren't the fastest because life had taught you how much joy there was in being able to do those things at all, and so you ran back and forth with a smile on your face that brightened everyone's day. You stole my heart over and over again until it felt difficult to breathe at times because my heart was so full of love! You were my hero, many times reassuring me that everything would be okay when I should have been reassuring you! You always squeezed out a smile or a pat on my hand when you could read the uncertainty and maybe a little fear on my face. We again found ourselves back like at the beginning cuddled on the couch because that was the only place I was going to get any rest. I again marveled at how tough you were and how joyful you were. Even when your face was no longer able to smile you would wiggle your finger or swing your feet to the sound of the music you loved and I knew there was still a happy dance in your heart! Although I only got to watch that happy dance for a little while, you will forever be the happy dance in my heart!" His family will receive friends on Friday, July 28, from 4-8 p.m. at Jersey Baptist Church, 13260 Morse Road, New Albany, where his funeral service will be on Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Pataskala Cemetery. Braxton's family would like to invite all to wear their "Super B" shirts when coming to the church to celebrate Braxton's life. In lieu of flowers, Braxton's family requests Lego's be donated in his honor to be distributed at Children's Hospital. Please send your Lego donations to the funeral home or to the church with your message to the family, to be displayed around the church for his service. Braxton loved sharing his Lego's with the Children who have been fighting a battle such as his, and his family would love to continue his legacy. Messages may be sent to his family by visiting www.cotnerfuneralhome.com