Elijah James Knight

Elijah James Knight, 14, passed away on June 25, 2018. He is the firstborn of 3 kids. He is an essential part of his family of 5. He is one of numerous grandkids. He is forever loved by all who knew him.

Elijah was good. He was kind and wise beyond his years. He was a genuine and a constant friend. He loved others and was adored by many. He was a brave leader and a shining light. He was intelligent and insightful and didn't let fear of judgement obstruct him. He made his family better and sought to remake the world into the one he wanted it to be.

He was a doting son (even in front of his teenage friends), a thoughtful brother, an affectionate grandson, a friend you could lean on and a boy becoming a man who was always finding solutions. He was a thinker, a doer, and a tinkerer. He was persistently idealistic, and his curiosity was insatiable. He was joyful and easily laughed to tears. He was creative, always building and discovering how things worked.

He fiercely loved his family and friends. He was a voracious reader, always seeking new perspectives and knowledge and his favorite stories were of the unfortunate and misunderstood hero. He stood by his ideals, and believed everyone should have a voice. He was patient, conscientious and strong.

He had big dreams. He envisioned a world without hate, labels, or violence. He didn’t just wait around wishing for things to improve. He manifested ideas to contribute toward positive change. He had a deep sense of right and wrong and an expanded awareness that is desperately needed.

A few of Elijah’s achievements…

• Selected for the prestigious Spillane Middle School’s Spartan Mark of Excellence Award awarded to a select number of students by teachers and administrators based on outstanding character and positive contributions to the school community

• Achieved the rank of Life Scout and was on his way toward Eagle Scout

• Elected Judge of BizTown after writing and delivering a speech to all his classmates

• First chair alto saxophone player in Symphonic Winds

• All-Region Band in 7th and 8th grade

• Awarded gold medals in UIL music competitions

• Three-year Distinguished Honor Roll for making straight A’s throughout middle school

• Rubik’s cube master

He is survived by his parents, Courtney and Stephen Knight, his brother Joshua and sister Julia. He will be loved and remembered by his numerous relatives as a gentle and compassionate best cousin, nephew, grandson and friend. His loss leaves a hole in his family that will never be filled. His life leaves a legacy that all will forever remember.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the one of the following organizations:

Sparks Foundation - Our Mission: To provide quality, inquiry-based science programming to all children regardless of socio-economic status. Please visit https://sparksfoundation.org

Everytown for Gun Safety is a movement of Americans working together to end gun violence and build safer communities. Please visit https://act.everytown.org/donate/etgsaf-tribute-donation or if you prefer to donate by check, send to Everytown for Gun Safety, PO BOX 3886, New York, NY 10163.

David’s Legacy Foundation is dedicated to ending cyber-assisted bullying by educating communities about the harmful effects of cyber abuse, providing support for bullying victims, promoting kindness, and supporting legislation that prohibits the cyberbullying of minors. Please visit http://www.davidslegacy.org

Compassion International is a child-advocacy ministry that pairs compassionate people with those who are suffering from poverty. Please visit https://www.compassion.com