Matthew Alexander Orange

Matthew Alexander Orange, affectionately known as “Orange”, was born on March 30, 1998, in DeRidder, Louisiana. TiWanna A. Kenney and Gregory Orange were blessed to be called parents. The miracle that was the birth of their son was so mighty that they named their baby, Matthew. Matthew, the Hebrew translation being “Gift of God,” was truly a name befitting the young King.

Every great person has an origin story, and this is Matthew’s.

“Hold him a little longer. Rock him a little more.

Read him another story; you’ve only read him four.

Let him sleep on your shoulder. Rejoice in his happy smile.

He is only a little boy, for such a little while.”

Matthew was baptized at Mount Olive Baptist church in Leesville, Louisiana by Rev. Clennon Turner on May 6, 2007. He began playing football and basketball at the age of five and was quite the shooter on the court. In 2007, Matthew moved to Austin, TX attending Dessau Middle School, where he was a member of A.S.P.I.R.E., the football team, and a spelling bee champion. In his early years he fell in love with writing music. He went on to Pflugerville High School where he continued to play football, added wrestling to his sports repertoire, and began to record music with his friends - DMS. He continued to write, record, and perform… under many names, Egnareaux being the one that stuck. The Kid had bars.

Those passions followed him into adulthood. Orange “put many people on” to songs. It was a favorite pastime. Especially anything from the 90’s. His favorite artist was Big K.R.I.T. He frequented K.R.I.T concerts with his parents, always doing a meet and greet. In 2019, Orange was honored with an interview for K.R.I.T’s tour documentary following the meet and greet.

“That was then, this is now, this for sure, let ‘em know”

“Here I go” - Big K.R.I.T.

After this exceptional young man graduated from high school in 2016, Matthew attended the University of North Texas. In 2020, after multiple appearances on the Dean’s List, he graduated with a bachelors in Media Arts with a minor in Kinesiology. While at UNT, he worked as a videographer for the University of North Texas Mean Green Eagles for three years. Post graduation, he worked as Course Production Specialist with Colibri and as a football recruiter.

To know Orange, you must understand three things:

First, he was a kind and compassionate human being that shined brightly for family and friends. Because he valued his family, he enjoyed attending family reunions, spending the summers in Leesville and traveling to visit relatives in Gary, In. Matthew built relationships on a foundation of trust, honesty, and reliability. He was a light to be around.

Second, when it came to Madden… Matthew did not play! With him, it was always a challenge, filled with trash talking, and usually truth. Pick up the controller ONLY if you want to take that ‘L’. If he felt especially bad for you, he’d soften the blow with peach cobbler, his specialty.

And third, Matthew was all about football. It began as a child with his love of the Leesville High School Wampus Cats. The song “I Can Feel It”, by Phil Collins always held a special place in his heart. Only Wampus Cats will understand this. His love of football was cultivated by watching sports with his Dad and cheering on LSU, “Geaux Tigers!” And yelling out “Who Dat” for the New Orleans Saints.

“Gift of God,” aka Orange, your name is respected. In twenty-five short years, you have positively touched the lives of so many and it has been unanimously decided that your existence was a phenomenal one. La Brudda’s will carry your name forever.

“It’s our Party and we fly if we want - To

Higher than the pain that we go - Through

Celebrate the life that we might - Lose

If I don’t see you again.” - Big K.R.I.T. “Party Tonight”

Orange’s heavenly father called him home because he earned his crown here on earth; his job is done. He leaves behind an army, armed with his love and spirit to protect that crown. And leading the way are…

His mother, TiWanna Kenney; His father, Gregory Orange and bonus Mom, Rocio; Grandparents, Geneva Kenney, Shirley Orange, and Harold Orange; Siblings (La Brudda’s), Elijah Orange and Isaac Aguilera; Aunts, Printess Kenney, Annette Newman, and Dawn (Thomas) Brown; Uncle, Garrick Orange;

Cousin (La Brudda), Xavier Cathey; Oh and his Beard which will glisten in glory, forever.

Matthew has an enormous family by birth, great aunts and uncles, and a plethora of cousins, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. Speaking to his character, he has a massive family acquired throughout life, adopted aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends, and family spanning far and wide around the world.

“-4Eva is a Mighty Long Time”

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishsouth.com for the Orange and Kenney family.