Najah Lamont Denley
August 9, 2002 - July 30, 2020

Najah Lamont Denley was born on August 9, 2000. He was the first born son of Rose Clark and Courtney Denley.

From birth, Najah was destined to take the world by storm. Naj would stop at nothing to learn, to grow, or to experience the best that life had to offer. Naj was not afraid. He was the definition of a precocious child. He was very clever, intelligent, mature, and good at many things, often in a way that you usually only expect to find in an adult.

Najah accepted our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at an early age, and was baptized by his grandfather, at God's Saving Station Baptist Church. Najah attended St. Rita's Catholic School, Golden Hills Elementary, Menifee Middle School, and Paloma High School, graduating in 2018.

Najah loved "muscle" cars, and not just for the looks. He was more curious about things like the exhaust system. He was researching technical colleges and had aspirations of becoming a certified diesel mechanic.

Najah spent more than half of his life on a baseball mound or on the basketball court. He played shortstop, catcher, and pitcher for the "Dirty Birds" baseball team. He also played several seasons with the "Wild Bunch" basketball team.

Music was one of Najah's many talents. That musical talent lead him to work with Rapper Lil' Boosie and have a song written and recorded about him by his best friend and brother in Christ, Tyrese Tillman, titled "Naj4h" by Reaper Tango.

Anyone who knew Naj, knew that they were loved because he would greet you with his enormous beautiful and gracious smile. Naj had an immense passion for many things, including animals, cooking, and tattoos. Naj was such the animal enthusiast. At one point he owned two tarantulas, two geckos, and a bearded dragon. YIKES! Naj spent many days fishing with his uncle Will. Najah's family looked forward to Thanksgiving, because, Najah was quite the chef, yes he could COOOOOOK!!! Najah fried a mean turkey, using a spice rub he created, NO half stepping there. Naj's tattoos were one of a kind. He would explain that each of his "tats" had its own special meaning. When you saw Najah, affectionately known as "Snap", you encountered a source of positivity. He would often say, "live your life," "chill out bro" or "FOE - Family Over Everything."

Najah adored his "Boss" mom as he affectionately called her. Najah would never come home (no matter the hour) without going to tell his mom, "good night." He would sometimes startle her, and she would exclaim, "dang what are you doing, you need to make some noise!" He could not wait to tell his mom about the adventures of each day. These conversations often lasted until morning. Najah and his momma shared many, many, special moments. He will live on through his little sister Nia. Naj decided his sister's name should be Nia because he wanted her name to be unique like his. Apparently the name Chloe just wasn't good enough for her. Just like her older brother Najah, Nia's precocious, curious nature is already shining and her smile is not far behind.

Najah's smile dimmed on, July 30, 2020 when he passed from this earth. The loss of such a beautiful young man was completely unexpected and our family will forever be devastated. We are deeply saddened. Our only comfort is in knowing that, to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.

Najah's family and friends will miss him more than words can say. He will forever be known by his smile and many names, "Naj," "Najarito," "goosey-neck," "Snap," "Snappy-boy," "Najnumba4." Najah was preceded in death by grandfathers: Sir Charles Clark, Andrew Bankhead, and Albert Denley (Houston); Najah's memory will forever be cherished by his mother Rose Clark; father Courtney Denley; stepfather Nilton Earls; siblings: Nia Earls, Kaileih Denley, Courtney Denley (Houston); grandmothers Rosie Bankhead and Mara Lara (Houston); great-grandmother Annette Black; great-great-grandmother Bennette Collins Rice (who is one-hundred and two years young); aunts: Afiya Jones, Rachel LaPlanche, Kimaada Kilbourne; uncles: William Clark, Corey Denley (Houston); Best Bros Dru Seamster and Tyrese Tillman; the beautiful Laila Singh; and a host of loved ones.

LONG LIVE NAJAH 4.

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