Dante Domeniqu-Demond Williams

Once upon a time, there was a man named Dante Domeniqu-Demond Williams. To the world, he was a father, a husband, a friend. But to me, he was everything—my husband, my best friend, my ride-or-die.

Dante was a man with a heart as big as the world. He loved his family fiercely—especially his four beautiful children and his bonus child Aniyah which was his niece but would treat her as if that was his own. He was the kind of father who didn’t just show up; he made memories. He loved to take us on adventures, to show the kids new things, to bring the family together. Whether it was exploring the world or simply sharing a laugh at home, Dante made life feel full.

One of my favorite memories was our last trip together, when we took the kids to SeaWorld San Diego. We all had such a blast. Afterward, Dante wanted to try a new BBQ place he’d heard about, and I made sure he got to try it—because that was my way of loving him back, of making sure he always had what he wanted. That’s what we were for each other: partners who gave, partners who cared.

Dante loved the little joys, too. He loved to cook—especially his stuffed chicken breast with broccoli and cheese, which I will miss so much. And yes, he loved to roll up and smoke a phat blunt, always making sure to get the best of the best from the dispensary. He had a way of making the ordinary feel special.

Even when life became hard and Dante got sick, his love for me and the kids never wavered. I stepped up to provide, because that’s what we did for each other—we carried each other through. For so many years, he worked his heart out to provide for our family, and when it was my turn, I wanted to make sure he never stressed, never worried. I spoiled him because he was my spoiled baby, and he deserved it.

We shared sixteen years together—sixteen years of love, laughter, and life. I will always be grateful for every moment, every memory, every day. Dante always reminded me how much he loved me and the kids, and I promise I’ll remind the kids how much their daddy loved them.

Today, my heart is torn. My other half is gone from this world, but not from my heart. I’ll miss his jokes, his smile, his cooking, his energy, and the way he made me feel whole. But Dante, my love, you are not forgotten. You are woven into me, into our children, into every memory we hold dear.

You were the best man I ever met in my life. And though you’re no longer here physically, I know you’re still with us—in every laugh, in every adventure, in every bit of love we share.

I love you forever, Dante Domeniqu-Demond Williams. My husband. My heart. My home.