Kevin Vaughn Roach

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The Life of Kevin Vaughn Roach

Kevin Vaughn Roach was born December 10, 1960, to Melvin H. Roach and Frances C. Johnson at Cumberland Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

Kevin spent his early years in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with his grandmother Geneva Johnson. He attended J. C. Sawyer elementary school in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and PS 289 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School in Brooklyn, New York, and Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland, eventually getting his GED.

Kevin came into this world weighing 9lbs 2 oz and opening his mouth to every spoonful given. We soon discovered that this food lover would eat almost anything, especially steak, collard greens, and sweet potato pie. The only food that Kevin would not eat was Jell-O.

Kevin was very particular about certain things, even down to the type of loose-leaf paper he used in school. He knew that only two stores carried the paper “Extra Narrow Micro Ruled but to him, it was that or nothing at all.

Kevin was skilled with his hands and loved creating anything made of wood; Cabinet Maker by trade, he was very particular about how a piece looked. Some might be surprised that the White House holds certain wood projects that was made by him.

But believe me when I say that I don’t think Kevin ever met a Lego that he didn’t like. Before Kevin became ill, he was creating Legos pieces online to submit to Lego for approval. Before you there is a Ferris wheel that was one of the last pieces that Kevin created, the number of hours and attention it took him to make this piece he was told that it was going to force me to divorce him. Jenise often joked that when it was time he was going to have a coffin made out of Legos.

Everyone who knew Kevin knew that he loved his music; on some days, he would be listening to jazz such as Fourplay or Yellowjackets, but then you could easily catch him listening to George Clinton, Parliament, Funkadelic, Earth Wind & Fire, or he would listen to Prince, Whitney Huston, and Michael Jackson. You will sometimes see him practicing on his red bass guitar.

He also loved the movies and had a mental catalog of movies that was amazing to the point where he could identify which actor played which role in every sequel.

Kevin was good with math, especially algebra, and he enjoyed helping others figure out and finding answers to complex or simple math questions. There are plenty of times I would ask Kevin how much 2, 3, or 4 numbers are, and he would be able to give you the correct answer, earning him the name of “my private calculator.”

Kevin loved to drive. There were many times he would say let’s go for a ride, and I would find myself in New York, or he wanted to show me Elizabeth City, where he grew up. My Mother caught on to us driving into New York every Christmas calling ourselves surprising her.

Kevin loved driving so much he signed on with a company called Sky Courier and created a company for himself called the Roach Coach. They knew that Kevin would take a package and drive it where ever they needed it to go.

Whenever you needed a ride or needed to pick up someone or thing, you could always count on Kevin without hesitation to be your wheelman. Kevin would have car keys in hand, and all you had to do was tell him the location, and he was on his way.

Kevin was patient with anyone who wanted to learn how to drive. He was always willing to be the designated driving instructor, he just was that type of person. Even when I ride with my daughters, he taught them so well, I feel as if I was in the car with him.

Kevin loved life and especially animals; it didn’t matter whether it was a Cat or Dog they seemed to draw to him; maybe it was his gentle, patient demeanor.  Kevin’s furry companion, Prince, was always by Kevin’s side and even at this time you see how lost and depressed Prince is without Kevin. 

Kevin was  a man of few words but he met a woman named  Jenise and after a 2 ½ hour conversation love was in the air and a year and a half later they were married on Valentines Day. February 14, 1992, in Fairfax, VA and as two became one, 3 daughters joined together and three sisters Keisha,  Kenya, and Jenene were formed. Jenise loved to joke with Kevin telling him that he has truly made her live through every one of their wedding vows, but when it came to the love they shared you can see how they depended on each other, when Kevin became ill he would tell her that she was his center. They stayed together for 28 years until he closed his eyes and slept.

Kevin loved to sit with people and chat about whatever or just listen to anything you had on your mind without judgement.  He was once asked why he takes so long to answer questions and his response was if most of us thought before we spoke we would be better off. He was quiet but behind those eyes was a brain that was brilliant.

Kevin leaves to continue his legacy his mother Frances, wife Jenise, daughters Keisha, Kenya and Jenene, brother Keith, 4 Grandchildren, Clarence, Jayden, Anthony and J’Niya, 12 Great grandchildren and a host of friends and relatives.