
Payton gave purpose to his life.  No matter what he did, he always had reasoning behind it.  Whether it was a text, a witty comment, even just a simple action he only did things that made life matter. Throughout our short friendship, he showed me no matter what cards you're dealt in life, make it meaningful.  Live even while you are dying. Leah and I got to help him cross skydiving off of his bucket list this summer, and it was quite possibly the best thing I will ever do.  Doing it with him made it even better.  During the training course he was on his phone while everyone else has their eyes glued to the screen.  We get up there and we “let” him jump first. One second he's standing there, the next he literally vanished. It was traumatizing. They played the video of everyone's freefall after and of course, there he was, doing literally everything they told us not to do in training.  He was balled up, kicking his feet, yet still thoroughly enjoying life while falling thousands of feet.  That adventure created an unbreakable bond between the three of us.  We got daily articles about random products or crazy events, unexplainable memes, live pictures of Roscoe attacking him, and the smartest one liners I’ve ever heard.  He was always there to make me laugh during the transition to college.  Although he's not a “feel all the feels” guy he told us one day that he knew we were always there to make him feel “normal” again.  And in the cancer world that's the hardest thing. He's impacted my life in the best way, and I’m so lucky to have been his friend through the ups and downs. I love you foo. 

On Monday, I had the opportunity to celebrate the life of one of my cancer camp kids. Payton was a remarkable young man whose influence and story touched countless lives. 

Cancer is brutal and unforgiving. It robs its victims of so much and gives nothing in return. What cancer cannot do, though, is conquer the human spirit. According to Payton’s diagnosis, he was on borrowed time from the beginning. He fought for three years. He was truly an example of someone that lived while they were dying. It was amazing to gather with over 500 people to honor the human Payton was and the impressions he left on us. 

I despise cancer with every fiber of my being. I also have met the most phenomenal humans because of it. My life is better because of those humans. This community, childhood cancer, is ALL THE FEELS and I am here for it. These kids have my heart. #paytonstrong #feelallthefeels #mykids 
@glumpayton

rest easy payton, I’ll never forget all the times we shared, either in person or 1500 miles apart... to one of the most unique and amazing people I’ve ever met, thank you and rest in peace 💜 
#fuckcancer

I knew Payton through my sweet son Jackson. Jackson moved to Keller the summer before his sophomore year and knew no one. He and Payton connected through video games and the friendship blossomed. Payton was an amazing friend to Jackson at a very tough part of Jackson's life. I got to hear wonderful stories about Six Flags, video games,  and concerts and lots of other adventures had by Payton, Ben, and Jackson. I am forever thankful to your family for raising such an amazing young man. He will forever be a part of our hearts in the Roesch family.

Hey this is Kevin (one of Payton’s friends in CT). I saw the message in the group chat and I just wanted to reach out and say what I need to say:

Becoming friends with Payton is one of the best things I've done in my life. For the past 2-ish years I've known him, he's made video games and life a lot more fun. He cracked the funniest jokes that always made me laugh when we talked to each other! One of my favorite jokes of his was when he'd make fun of my job (I'm a "bag boy" at a golf course...silly name, I know!) because I think of his jokes when I'm at work. It makes work a lot more entertaining for sure!

I am eternally grateful for every single moment I spent with Payton 💜. The best part of my summer was when he flew up to CT with Ben. I am very happy that I got the chance to fly down to Texas too and visit "y'all"! 

If you can, tell Payton I love him!

I didn’t get the honor to meet this brave young man, but his story touched my heart. I wanted to do something, but didn’t know exactly what it would be until I felt a calling to create a fundraiser for him. The outpouring of love and support from all over was beautiful. It was from the generosity of everyone and giving 100% proceeds that Payton was able to get Roscoe. Seeing the joy on Payton’s face made my heart smile and I’ll remember it always. 

Payton,
Your family has shown many of us the strength & courage it takes to be strong for a loved one. Your mother has shown us it’s Ok to feel out loud & still wear the badge of hope. But you have shown us that thou it may not be our plan. We take the cards he deals us & go all in. To never miss a beat no matter the pain. To love & forgive in one breath.  To cherish all & walk away in peace when called.
From our family to yours. May journey & courage impact us all. 
Love to all 

I never had the pleasure of meeting Payton personally but I feel like I got to know him through his Payton strong page. He was a remarkable young man who lived his life to the fullest. Today at his celebration of life you could feel all the love and by the amount of people you could see how many lives he touched. He was an angel that walked on this earth for a short time but his love and impact will last an eternity. We know he is rejoicing in Heaven. He  will be missed and always loved. 

How we wish we could be there to help celebrate Payton's life.  He sounded like an exemplary young man in how he gave so much inspiration to others.  We will forever hold Payton and all of you in our hearts and prayers.  Love you guys!
Tyrone, Lisa, Sydney, Sophia & Sage

Payton first came into my life just over 6 years when Nikolette and I had just started dating. I always noticed he was an avid gamer with a sharp sense of humor. Whenever he would make a remark or switched the topic, we would all laugh and crack jokes together on the couch at his Moms or Grandmas. One of my favorite moments was shortly after Payton went into remission. The whole family went to Chef Point as a celebration dinner. During Payton’s time enduring chemo, he asked Nikolette and I to watch his little cactus. Payton is a natural green thumb and animal lover. Niko and I are huge animal lovers, but we definitely do not have a green thumb. While at dinner, Niko reluctantly told him we had not been good plant-sitters and his little cactus had not made. Without missing a beat and from across a table with close to 15 people at it, he says, “Guys c’mon! I can beat cancer and you can’t even keep a cactus alive!” The entire family busted out laughing and I knew right then that I had a truly awesome brother-in-law to be. Since then a lot has happened, but the final thought I wanted to share with you is my wedding day. I am an only child with few close friends. When I asked Payton’s sister, Nikolette, to marry me, I knew I would be taking on a new family and that was exciting to me. For our wedding, I asked Payton to be a groomsman and stand with me. This is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Having my new brother walk down the aisle and stand with me on that day to greet his sister and my wife, will be something I think about for a long long time. Thank you for being my brother. I love you Bubba.

My fellow camper/LIT and CIT.  We understood each other on deep topics and the ridiculous mundane.  One fun memory was him sitting at one of the bench tables playing with an acorn as I asked what he was doing and him answering something nutty in his witty Payton way.

Payton was a very special young man, and I am so Blessed to have had him in my life.  I remember talking to him about camp when he was first diagnosed...and thinking, this kid is a tough nut to crack...I did not think he was going to come.  
Thankfully, I was wrong, not only did he come, but he thrived at camp...always a smile on his face-he jumped right in-making lifelong friends, experiencing everything, helping and encouraging others, despite how he was feeling.  
He has a quiet strength and thoughtful demeanor that draws others in--you want to hang with him and be his friend.  It is what made him a great LIT/CIT.  He did whatever needed to be done at camp, and he also helped outside of camp.  
Payton got the whole family involved with camp, they raised funds and gathered in-kind donations all to ensure we could have camp.  He knew the "magic" that camp provides to kids with cancer and wanted to help give that to others.  
I am including a favorite picture from the French Market last year--it was very cold that day--but Payton was out there with his mom, with a smile on his face, manning a booth for Camp iHope.  
Payton demonstrated daily what it meant to #ChooseJoy! Despite the circumstances, you look for the beauty and joy in each moment and share that with others. That is the Payton I will remember.  One of our last conversations was talking about what we would do at camp this summer and teaching “peel, peel, banana” to his gaming buddies😊
It has been a Blessing getting to know all of you...you raised an incredible young man who was loving, generous, and kind...thank you for sharing your  boy and your lives with us...we grieve with you, and are here for you.  We rejoice knowing that we will see Payton again one day!
Payton you will be missed, but you will always remain in our hearts and our most cherished memories…and always loved by your camp family!!!  


 Payton was my first best friend, when I think of Payton I think of us running through the kitchen and grandpa telling us for the 100th time to stop running or us racing to find grandmas glasses first so she would give us a dollar even though we both always ended up getting a dollar. I remember on one of xavis birthdays we made up a game called “steal steal steal” where we would drive around on the little car things we had at my house and crash into each other until someone fell off and then we would STEAL that car. But to really play out game we made up you had to scream at the top of your lungs “STEAL STEAL STEAL”. And although I don’t remember this story, i’ve heard it about a million times and i think it describes the relationship me and payton had pretty well, when payton cut my hair...i’m sure we both decided to do that together.  We were always getting into trouble. My most favorite memory I have of us is when we went to leaping lizards and there was a penny in between one of the blow up slides and we named the penny “pennyworth” I don’t know why but we did and the whole time we were there we were saying “do it for pennyworth”  these past weeks have been the hardest weeks of my life i’ve been in a super bad place and it’s been hard for me to find motivation to do anything but now i’ll be saying “do it for payton” Payton will be my motivation to do my best in everything I do since he didn’t get the chance to. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Payton is that life maybe short but you need to live it to the fullest. His choice to stop chemo really showed me how brave he was and how much he enjoyed living rather than just going through life being alive. 

#choose'sJoy, that's our motto at Camp iHope and that is how I will remember Payton,  choosing Joy and living everyday to the fullest.   Payton made an impact at  camp from his time as a camper through his years as an LIT/CIT as well as  with all the time he devoted  for camp throughout the year.     

I will remember Payton  as fun and funny,  working hard and playing hard, never giving up and not holding back.  He made forever friends.  He was Authentic.   I love that Babe's was his favorite food and that he  'liked' my shoes'  (Birkenstocks!)     

I 'm so thankful that I had had the opportunity to get to know him and his family.  My heart breaks for you and my love goes out to you.   I'm so honored to celebrate his life with you.   

I'll miss Payton and even through the tears, I will forever remember his Joy...#chooseJoy.

Rene Lehman, Camp iHope    


The first thing I noticed about Payton was his outfit. He was wearing a vineyard vines shirt and khaki shorts. I thought this was his way to make a statement for his first day at camp, until he proceeded to wear vineyard vines every single day. He fished, canoed, zip lined, and bagged frozen jello dressed in vineyard vines, khaki shorts, and either tennis shoes or Birkenstocks. I had no idea that the most well-dressed boy in Camp iHope history would become one of the best friends I’d ever have. Payton, Hannah and I had a group chat that we would text in almost every minute of every day. I loved the way he was able to have real, meaningful conversations one minute, and the next minute we could debate which fast food mascot would win in a fight. Some of my favorite memories with Payton were when he convinced half of the LITs that his name was spelled “Paden”, the wish he wrote at closing ceremonies, when he drank the vast majority of a 12 pack of country time pink lemonade within 4 days, and when he convinced me to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, but completely disregarded every single thing the instructor told him to do. I will never forget Payton’s laugh, honesty, flexibility, and his ability to always be 100% himself regardless of what people might think. I wouldn’t be half the person I am today if I hadn’t met Payton, and I am so blessed to have been his friend. I love you Payton. And I- miss you. 

He looked up to his big cousin and took every opportunity to make him laugh with inappropriate content that only an older teenage cousin could impart, mimic his “epic” phrases, like the infamous, “heck no baby”, or, “okay, so basically...” and interact with his gaming friends as if they were his own. The hardest part of intentionally spending so much time and effort showing someone you love them, is having them taken away and not being able to show that love to them any longer. I suppose that means I have to do so in a different way and so that’s what I am trying to figure out. 

During Payton’s transition, I frequently monitored his phone, finding comfort in the messages sent to him by friends from high school, Connecticut, and even ones he’d talk to online that he’d never meet. After he passed, I’d sit and read countless memories and words that friends and strangers shared about how Payton touched their lives, deepened their faith, made them laugh, and encouraged them. I think we could only hope that when our time comes we have positively impacted as many people in our lives as he has in his 19 years and that people remember us with such fondness and genuine appreciation for who we really are. I know how much I love him, but it makes my heart happy to know how many other people loved him too. 

So now what’s left... raise my son to do all of the amazing things his cousin wasn’t given the opportunity to do... keep his memory alive, and heal one day at a time knowing he is watching over us. 

Payton, ...ok, so basically, I’ll miss every little thing about you... and there is no way I could put that into words. Until I see you again... your Titi will think about you every day. I love you Paytie- Pie.

A roller coaster that had its ups and downs and twists and turns as we navigated the world of caring for and loving someone so dear to us, who had an incurable form of cancer at 16. 

And yet, I still have so much to be grateful for. When Payton was diagnosed His prognosis wasn’t good. But God performed miracles that we cannot forget to acknowledge. He gave us a year of remission, and three years to spend with Payton making memories and showing our love. I will miss our Sunday morning trips to Whataburger for breakfast and Brownie snuggles, the countless Chi-fil-a chicken sandwiches I would happily deliver upon request, and our Friday movie night sleepovers, where you’d intentionally pick the worst movies you could find. I will miss the random memes and shocking articles you’d send me in the middle of the day, asking what my thoughts were on the topic.  Your love for all things animals matches my own and shows what a gentle soul you are; I promise to help take care of your beloved pets. At times the devil will creep in and make me ask myself whether I took advantage of those years, ensuring that I did as much as possible, but I do know in my heart that I did the best I could.

The last week at Payton’s bedside was excruciatingly difficult. But even when he was unresponsive to others, he would react to my voice. That gives me peace. I told him I loved him and he told me he loved me too. I told him I hope I was the best Titi For him and he told me I was. All of these things bring me comfort, but they also bring me deep sadness. Now I have an emptiness that I have to navigate how to fill, or at least try to heal from. 

Pray for me, my family, my son... my goodness I could go on and on about how I worry how Landon will deal with the loss of his precious cousin. The 13 year difference between them didn’t pose a barrier. Especially from the perspective of Landon. 

But none of us can fortell the future, so we do what we feel we have to do at the time, so i visited as often as I could and had him visit me whenever possible. I got married and started a family in Philadelphia and honestly thought that this would be our forever home. Once my son Landon was born it was clear to my husband and I that something was missing, family. But even though we knew we needed that support, I never thought that it would be possible for us to move because of my husband’s business. 
Out of the blue in 2015 my husband proposes “what if I could move my business to Texas, would you want to move?” I didn’t even know how to answer. I really never thought this could be a reality, but the reality was “of course I’d move!!”
We wouldn’t fully acknowledge it until later, but God orchestrated one of the most amazing swift upheavals of our family from Philly to Texas. I mean, he had his hands in all of it. Our two year plan to move back quickly became less than a year plan and before I knew it I was submitting my resignation and applying to schools in Texas to teach there the following school year. Even that had God written all over it, one recommendation from a friend, a skype interview later, and I was hired!! It couldn’t have been more seamless... 

In November of 2016 when we heard the words “Payton has adenocarcinoma of the esophagus” it all became crystal clear.  HE knew I would be needed, but more importantly HE knew I would be devastated if I couldn’t be there with my boy through what the next three years would bring. 

After that day, I’ve never doubted that God had a plan. And although I will never understand what this part of it may be, I do trust and know that none of us would be able to handle this grief if he wasn’t here with us this whole time. 

And these last three years would bring a lot of emotion. Deep sorrow, pain, gratitude, elation, guilt, helplessness, ...

Where do I begin...
This boy who I have had the honor of knowing since he was born has left me and I don’t know how to even begin to process this. 

I may not have given birth to Payton, but the connection I have with him is as deep as if I had.  My sister often introduces me to others as one of Payton’s favorite people, and I don’t acknowledge this much, but in my heart I know it’s true. My heart is breaking and is filled with the deepest sadness. 

The day he was born I arrived at the hospital as Payton’s dad, Perry held him up through the glass windows of the nursery for me to meet my one and only nephew. I vividly remember bringing him and my sister home from the hospital. 

During my sister’s pregnancy and for the first year of Payton’s life I lived with Perry and Sandy. I got to be a hands on part of raising him and watching him grow. Watching my sister and brother-in-law  care for him planted the seeds for what that would be like for me when this time would come  for me over 10 years later. Payton is the reason I knew that I wanted to have a little boy of my own, a little boy who loves his mama, just like Payton loved me. 

I eventually moved out of my sister’s home, but for the next several years I got to love on this sweet curly-haired boy and I found no greater joy than being his Titi! I remember how loving, smart, and inquisitive he was as a toddler. As he grew into a young boy, we played video games, read Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and went on adventures. One of his favorite places was Six Flags and how I loved reading his stories with the most adorable characters you’ve ever seen. 

Time passed and my life took me in a different direction. My move to Philadelphia was difficult, but the thing that weighed heaviest on my heart was leaving my boy. This nine year absence is one of my biggest regrets had I known my time with him would be limited. 

Sandy, we are so sorry for your loss.  You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.  George and Lisa

One of my favorite memories was just watching him lounging around and the odd and unique way he would sit, legs folded just so, often with his hands wrapped around his feet. Or when we were celebrating one of his birthdays at Joe’s Crab Shack and he danced around the restaurant with chicken garb as we sang happy birthday. But what I’ll cherish most were the accomplishments he made in the face of his cancer. That he got to walk across a stage at his graduation. Or when he was able to come home with us for Thanksgiving. That he got to meet one of his idols with The Make-a-Wish Foundation. That’s what I’ll remember most. 
I’ll miss him forever and keep him in my heart. 

I was privileged to help out with a fundraiser for Payton at our downtown pizzaria in Roanoke.  As usual, with huge support for Payton, a large crowd gathered which resulted in a long line for food.  It was a very hot day and a little later I see Payton arrive and go to the end of the line to wait his turn.  After much coaxing and some help from his family we managed to talk the guest of honor into going in ahead of everyone to sit down and enjoy some pizza.  I reflect on that moment often remembering what a kind and unassuming young gentleman he was even when he was not feeling his best.  Thank you Payton for being an inspiration to us all. ♥️

Payton, where do I start?  I’ve have tried to write this so many times and I just can’t seem to  find the words.... I first met you when you were just three years old.  You had more energy than should be allowed in a teeny tiny little body and an adorable little high- pitched voice to go with it!  You couldn’t quite say my name right, and forevermore, I became simply known to you as “Hedder.”   Watching your grow up alongside my kids for the last 16 years was such a blessing.  You were an older cousin to GiG, Xavi, and Max and they all looked up to you.   We had so many memories over the years that it’s hard to just pick one favorite so I’m leaving my top two.  I will always remember when you were younger, everyday I would come pick up Gianna at Grandma’s house and you would come and climb on me like a jungle gym.  I was so tired from teaching all day, but hearing your little giggles as you sat on top of my head or clinged on to my back always made me smile.  You would hide and wait for me to sit down and then appear out of no where every single day!  My second favorite memory happened just a few days before you passed from this Earth.  Although I have  always loved you, I don’t think I had ever verbalized that to you.  When I went to visit you in Hospice, it was at a time that you weren’t particularly responsive and were sleeping peacefully.  I rubbed your arm and for the first time ever, I said to you “I love you Payton.”  In a moment of clarity,  you opened your eyes, studied my face, and and said “I love you too Hedder.”  That moment will forever remind me to let others know that you love them because tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  The last words that you ever spoke to me were,  “Thanks for coming.  It’s much appreciated.”  And to that I say, thank you Payton.  Thank you for coming into my life and showing  me how to truly appreciate and cherish each day.   You are the bravest person I’ve ever known.  Fly high Pay-Tonius!  Until we meet again - Hedder 💜

I am so sorry for your loss. I never met Payton, but I felt like I knew him. I started following Payton’s Facebook page in the later part of 2018 after my little nephew was diagnosed with Leukemia. I continued to follow his page and let me say he was truly an inspiration to everyone. He did not let cancer define him. He showed courage and bravery to the very end. God Bless your family during this most difficult time...Love and prayers 
 Kim Atkins Ruckersville, VA

I would first like to say that I am so sorry for your loss. I know how much joy Payton brought to my life, and can only imagine how he brightened yours. Payton always lit up the room when he was in class. He had a magnetic smile and a natural charisma. I could joke around with him ,and he would always have a funny retort back. I am so thankful for the small amount of time that I got to share with him. 

I am so thankful I had the opportunity to know sweet Payton and his amazing family. I had the privilege on enjoying a trip with him and other patients where I saw Payton enjoy LA. I am thankful for that week that several of us had the chance to spend time together with other patients. Thank you for allowing me to get to know Payton. He will always be remembered!! 

I feel so privileged to have been Payton's teacher for two years (Medical Terminology and Health Science Theory).   What I remember most was his smile.  It just made my day to look over at him and see that big smile.  
I was even more thrilled when he decided to walk the stage at his graduation.  The world has lost a great young man but I am better for having known him.  

Payton and I first met online 3 years ago, but we had never actually met in person until just a few months ago. The experiences that we shared were ones that I will keep with me forever. An especially fond memory I have with him was during the car ride returning from our day in New York. Somewhere along the way, Payton had decided to curl up and rest his head on my knee, and he fell fast asleep soon after. His ability to make himself comfortable in the silliest ways was something I always thought was hilarious. He never concerned himself with what he may look like or how people saw him, his only goal was to become as comfortable as possible. I also found the small act to be very endearing. We had met for the first time ever just a few days prior yet he did not even hesitate to completely fall asleep on me. In that moment, I suddenly saw just how close we had gotten over the past 3 years and how much of a bond we all shared. He proved to me that we really are family. His nonchalant, affectionate, nature is one that I have only ever seen in him and is one of the things I loved most about him. I'll never forget him or the effect he had on all of our lives and I will forever cherish the friendship we shared.

I never met Payton but followed his story and felt like i did know him He was a wonderfull person always smiling and i am happy he is with God now and no more pain i am a five year Breast Cancer survivor myself and i thank God every day for that God bless your family

Meeting Payton in person for the first time in Connecticut was breathtaking . Little did I know he would bring me on adventures through his life and I am forever grateful for Payton, his life, and his family and everyone around him. I will never forget the adventures we had through Connecticut and Chicago, Payton was truly a life changing friend.

Payton has always been there for me. When I came over I felt like he was my older brother. We used to play games on his computer and every time I came he would call me a gamer. I remember that he said he wanted to Chang his name permanently to “gamer”. When I had to leave grandma’s house I would always be so sad and I would I always tell him when I get home we will play just invite me. He would always invite me. I love you Payton!

I have known Payton as long as I have had the ability to remember anything and all I can say is that I looked up to him as an older brother. He showed me so many things that I still have at the front of my mind. I can confidently say he was the only person ever who could make me roll on the ground and cry of laughter each and every time I spoke to him...he shared our love of games wholeheartedly and his jokes and fantastic personality shaped me into the person I am today. I am totally grateful to have had him as a friend and part of my life and will never forget all the late nights where we talked on the phone for hours about games. Thank you Payton, I’ll never forget you 💜

As Payton came up for his photo with me, I joked, “Don’t ya want to hold my hand?” He responded with, “Uh, not reallyyyy...” it made both of us crack up. He was never shy to answer honestly. Even on my wedding day. It was the perfect day. 💜🤟🏼



Ben and Payton have been best friends since freshman year.  They were truly brothers from another mother.  Payton will be missed.

Ben and Payton went to TwitchCon together.  We asked Ben to send pictures so we could keep up with what they were doing.  We received nothing but pictures of the boys with pretty girls.  Boys!!!

I have a funny memory of Payton, with his mother dragging him to do CrossFit with her. You could tell that was the last place that he wanted to be, but he did it, anyway.  It was a little comical.

Becky and I were sitting and remembering times we talked with Peyton and noticed how much of a gentleman he was at such a young age. 
It was an honor to know him and he will always be in our heart’s.

On our way to NYC, I loved looking in my rear view mirror to see all the boys laying on each other, chatting like they were brothers.  The love and comfort in my car that day will stay with me forever.

I've never had the pleasure to meet Payton or his family, but through my nephew  ((one of his Ct gaming pals and my sister, (who had Payton fulfill his wish list to come to Ct to meet his fb gaming friends), i feel I know him in my heart. He was such an amazing young man, with a beautiful heart and smile. His long courageous fight inspired so many people across this country who fell in love with him. - He will never be forgotten. His fight is over and he is in the arms of the  Lord. May this sweet boy rest in peace.

I never had the privilege of meeting Payton but his story, strength and courage has changed my life.  He has made me appreciate life and to never sweat the small stuff because life is so fragile and you are never promised tomorrow. I learned through Payton and his mom, that no matter what happens, no matter what life throws at you that God will give you the strength to get through the bad days. As a mother of two young girls I really felt for Sandy and how deep and resilient a mothers love is...I appreciate every single day that we wake up healthy and I pray Payton knows how many lives he has touched and how many people he has changed. Thank you for sharing Payton with all of us and sharing his inspiring  character and his amazing soul! He was truly one of Gods angels here on earth and I believe He needed him back home because he was too precious to be here...when I get to heaven one day I’m going to find Payton and give him the biggest hug and thank him for touching my life! 

I have 2 special memories I want to share.  I will never forget Payton's love for gaming.  One day he told me you can just call me "Gamer"  that's what my name is to which I just laughed.  Payton also loved my maiden name and said he wanted to be a Wooters and I told him he could be an honorary member of my family.  So his name will forever be Gamer Wooters and I will never ever forget him!!  

I have never met Payton But on social media and what you have shared. I came to realize that although I never met your beautiful son the way he cared for others the way he smiled on Facebook and the love that you both shared made me stronger. It’s funny but I will never forget Peyton because He was just simply unforgettable he could teach you how to love someone unconditionally that is amazing. Sandy I want to thank you for sharing your beautiful son with all of us we feel your pain although we will never know your true pain Of losing such a wonderful son. but I will pray for you and the rest of the family that somehow God will make sense of this great tragedy and loss. With all my love and my condolences your cousin ...
Ray junior 

One of Payton’s favorite things to do was what we called a LAN party. Payton and Jackson would come over to my house and order Papa Johns. We would play games for hours. And I always found it so funny how Payton would insist on ordering a large pizza because he was hungry, but end up eating a slice and having to take home the rest. I’m so grateful I got to be his friend. He will be missed so much 💜

I did not know Payton personally, but I started following the posts of Payton on Facebook a while ago and from the first post I read, he stole my heart with his story.  Payton showed so much strength and bravery for a young man and I know he got that strength from his family - and he was always with a smile on his face.  I know he will be missed so much by so many people and I just want his family to know that Payton has made a big difference in a lot of lives, including mine.   Thank you for sharing him with us.   

I feel like Payton is family to me, because Sandra and Dwayne are family. I’ve known them for almost two years now, in fact our first interaction with Row & Oak was Paytonstrong. I met Payton that day and I could tell he was overwhelmed with the amount of love that surrounded him that day. It was very powerful and overwhelming. That day, I joined Row & Oak because of what they stood for and this family. My hearts are with you guys, while I’ve never felt the pain you guys feel, I hurt because you hurt. “The pain you have been feeling can not compare to the Joy that is coming” - Romans 8:18

I never met my little Cousin Payton personally but I did know him through following the postings from his Mom of him on FB! From them Payton has shown me that we can’t let life restrict and keep us from what we want to do! Live for that moment.  Love with all you heart. Open your eyes and take a good look around and Smile , ( Oh what a beautiful smile he had). We will truly miss this Angel who was here on earth but will smile because now he will forever be an Angel with the Lord! Rest In Peace Payton.

I have many memories of Payton. The one that sticks out in my mind is last year at Legal Draft. I hate doing live videos and Payton agreed to do one with me. I always get nervous and you can tell that I am in the video. Look at Payton and he is calm and collective. After that I always remember him when I’m doing my videos. How he acted, how calm he was, how it was all about Camp iHope. Every time I do a live video, I get my strength from him. He also told me after that he wanted to be part of my fundraising team. That’s just the kind of person he was. I will miss him dearly. I also am very grateful for that video. I’m very grateful to his entire family for sharing him with us. I love y’all. 

My fondest memory is from several years ago. I was in Sandy’s office talking to her about Citizen Police Alumni stuff.  I had been in there for at least 10 minutes.  Sandy comments that Payton is with her today and he is laying on the floor behind her desk. About that time Payton sits up so I can see him and he has the biggest grin on his face.  I had no idea he was there! 🥰

OBITUARIO

Payton Carter Pettigrew

2 noviembre, 2000 – 16 noviembre, 2019

Keller's Old Town Funeral Home & Cremation Service

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