Rashad Bernard Follins

Rashad Bernard Follins passed away at the age of 32 on February 9, 2021, at UF Health Shands in Gainesville, FL after battling an infection. He was born on May 6, 1988, in Pensacola, FL and at the age of 12 was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. He graduated from Fleming Island High School in 2006, where he played football, basketball and was on the weightlifting team. He completed his A.A. at the University of North Florida before transferring to The Art Institutes in Miami, FL, to pursue his passion as a filmmaker and writer.

Rashad was a unique person. He had energy for days and loved to help people. He had the type of personality where he was always helping others. He was loved by so many. He always had a huge smile on his face, love and compassion for all, and a positive outlook on life. He was a talented author and a screenplay writer who wrote many books and created Blah Productions. He was an electrician by trade. He loved nature, gardening, and drawing, but his true love and joy were his two girls, Aniya and Aalina. His favorite saying to them was "good morning girls, daddy loves you, Follins family - Blah."

Rashad was a strong man who allowed God’s light to shine even in the toughest times. He always said, "through it all, God got me." He shared more compassion and love than any other person we know on this earth. He was kind-hearted, loved everyone, and he never met a stranger because he always had a way of making you feel right at home. He was the life of the party. He was strong, courageous, gifted, and a child of the most high God.

He was a true gift from God who truly left his impression. This world was not ready for the greatness he had to bring, but his legacy will live on through his two daughters, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He is survived by his daughters Aniya age 7, and Aalina age 5; parents, Cynthia and Fermon Brown, Keith Baxter Adams biological father, grandparents Sadie Young grandmother, Nadine Adams grandmother, siblings Nicole Wangaard sister, Nickolas McAllister brother, Nakia Brown sister, Keyontaē Lakeya Adams sister and Keith Baxter Adams, Jr. brother. He is also survived by his aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation will take place from 5:00-8:00pm on Friday, February 19, 2021 at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin. His Celebration of Life will take place at 1:00pm, the next day, Saturday, February 20, 2021 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Jacksonville Memory Gardens.

Arrangements by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL (904) 288-0025.