Kebbren Isiah Leigh-Gaye

Kebbren Isiah Leigh-Gaye was born April 26, 2003, in Washington, D.C. to Karen Leigh and Kebba Gaye. Kebbren was raised in Alexandria, Virginia, attending Woodlawn Elementary school and graduating from Mount Vernon High School in June 2021.

Kebbren was a beautiful and sweet-tempered child, raised in the love of his parents, grandparents, beloved aunts and uncles, and a large extended family. His fondest childhood memories were holidays with his family and their annual July 4th family reunion on Martha’s Vineyard. Kebbren’s favorite pastimes on the Vineyard were playing basketball with his cousins, swimming, and exploring the island by bike. His longtime friend, Michael Pidgeon, would often accompany him, traveling from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts after his family moved away from Virginia.

Good-natured and fun-loving, Kebbren enjoyed sports, swimming with his friends in the local pool during the summer, and playing video games, Madden, and WWE, with his cousins and friends, particularly, twins Bradford and Bradley Chei. Kebbren’s friends joyfully remember recording videos on YouTube, occasionally pretending to be celebrities preparing introductions for their fans. Kebbren was delighted by music, especially rap, and enjoyed dancing, to the amusement of his family and friends given that dancing was not his strength.

In high school, Kebbren was a wide receiver for the Mount Vernon football team, proudly wearing his gray and maroon jersey #7. Earlier in his football career, the Fairfax County’s Hall of Fame recognized Kebbren for a “job well-done on and off the football field” in 2016. A natural athlete, Kebbren also dabbled in track and field, running the 100- and 400-meter dashes for Mount Vernon’s team. As a spectator, Kebbren was a proud fan of the Washington Football team, although both his mom and Auntie Sue preferred the Philadelphia Eagles.

After his high school graduation, Kebbren made his first trip overseas, travelling to The Gambia, West Africa with his father. Kebba’s Aunty Mary’s home was their home base during their 31-day excursion, which included visits to Brussels and Senegal. Kebbren was amazed by the cultural differences between Africa and the United States, by people moving in the streets and driving and traffic patterns he’d never seen before. Kebbren quickly learned that his customary attire of sweatpants and a hoodie would not serve him well in the African heat. In Gambia, Kebbren was able to get to know more members of the paternal side of his family. He spent time hanging out with his cousins, playing video games, and going to the beach. He delighted in eating his favorite traditional dishes including benachin (jollof rice) and domoda (peanut butter stew) prepared each day by his Aunties. Kebbren also volunteered at his Aunty Mary's high school, Diana Mariam School.

Most recently living in Woodbridge, Virginia with his father, Kebbren was enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College and worked at Amazon. Kebbren had an interest in business and hoped to open his own barber shop someday. Today, we mourn the possibilities associated with a life cut short much too soon.

Kebbren passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Among a myriad of fond memories, Karen will miss movie nights with Kebbren, either at the theater or at home with popcorn and soda, snuggled into their favorite spots on the couch. Kebba will miss their annual Lakers games, and, sometimes, rewarding Kebbren's best friends with tickets to the Lakers vs Wizards game, if they made the honor roll.

Along with his parents, Kebbren leaves to grieve his absence and celebrate his life, loving grandmothers, Dolores Leigh and Aja Yandeh Njie; beloved Auntie Sue (Susan Leigh), and a host of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, and friends.

The family gratefully acknowledges the outpouring of love and support received since Kebbren’s passing.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NationalFH-MP.com for the Leigh-Gaye family.