Damien Pearman

April 21, 1990 -

Sept. 21, 2009

GREENSBORO — It is with the saddest of hearts that the families of Damien Pearman bear the sudden loss of his life and return to God on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. Damien, a sophomore at Appalachian State University was 19. He attended Page High School and graduated from Northwest High School in 2008.

Damien was an exceptional student and accomplished athlete with a long tenure in many sports, but most notably, football and lacrosse. He began his loving relationship with the game of football at age 8 at Lewis Recreation Center where for many years, he played with joy, discipline and heart. He was mentored there by a family of loving coaches and Damien, in turn, gave them the drive and dedication of a young boy devoted to his team. He played on the inaugural lacrosse team at Mendenhall Middle School where in that sport and also on their football team he continued to exhibit a selfless love of the games and for his teammates and coaches. His Football career continued at Page and also Northwest until injuries prevented further play.

Damien has always had a strong relationship with words and his abilities have grown from the occasions as a small boy when he began gifting family members with poems to the point at his death when he had become an accomplished poet and rap artist. Damien was a physically and emotionally strong young man who always prioritized other people's needs. He was a shining example and role model to his beloved younger brother Wyatt and never failed to be there for him.They shared a very deep bond which cannot be replaced. Damien's long term relationship with his girlfriend, Taylor Allen of Greensboro also testifies to the committed love that Damien gave to those people and things he loved the most. He was a born leader who led with a quiet, resolute and noble strength.

To forever hold in their hearts, he is survived by his brother Wyatt, his sister Mandy McKoin, husband Andy McKoin and their children Dylan and Will of Greensboro; his father Richard M. Pearman, III and his stepmother Paula of South Fork, Colorado and her family; his grandfather, Richard M. Pearman, Jr. of Randleman, and their family; his mother, Karen Lynnette Smith of Jacksonville, North Carolina, his brother, Ben Parrish, and their family; his former stepmother Juliet Talbert (Wyatt's mother) of Greensboro. He also leaves an extended family including Jodie and Ronn Johnson, aunt and uncle, cousins Emily and Russell Johnson of Greensboro; Grandparents Robert and Dorothy Brown of Milford, PA, and Betsy Brown of Greensboro; Jeff and Joy Brown, aunt and uncle, cousins Ashley and Ryan Anderson of Bethesda, MD. Damien considered the family of H. Christopher Thompson and his partner Rodger Webb, of Kernersville and their relatives his family as well. Numerous other relatives of the Greensboro area and beyond will miss him eternally as will his enormous community of friends here and in Boone.

A celebration of Damien's life will be held at 2 pm Saturday, Sept. 26 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church 607 North Greene St. Greensboro, NC with a reception immediately following in the Haywood-Duke room. A visitation will be held at Forbis & Dick North Elm Street Chapel, the day and time to be announced.