Dewayde Stewart

DeWayde DeAngelo Stewart, born July 3, 2010, was a lively and loved young person whose smile and sense of humor touched classmates and neighbors across his Cleveland community. A student who had just completed eighth grade at Scranton Elementary, Dewayde was remembered by teachers and friends as bright, funny, and kind — someone who could lift a room with a grin and a quick laugh.

Family, classmates, and teachers recall Dewayde’s easygoing spirit and the small ways he made days better for people around him. In school he was described as an engaged student who connected with teachers and peers; one educator called him an ideal student for his warmth and attentiveness. Outside the classroom, Dewayde enjoyed the ordinary pleasures of childhood and early adolescence: time with friends and neighborhood moments that made up a life that mattered to many.

When friends and community members gathered to remember Dewayde in the days after his passing, they shared balloons, chalk messages, and quiet remembrances that reflected the bright, immediate presence he held in their lives. Those gatherings — near the school and around the neighborhood — showed how deeply he was known and loved by people who watched him grow.

Dewayde’s family arranged memorial services in early July to celebrate his life. Those who knew him fondly remember his laughter, his ready smile, and the simple acts of kindness that made him unique. While the loss is profoundly felt, family and friends continue to carry his memory forward through stories, quiet gestures, and the small traditions that keep his spirit present.

Though Dewayde’s life was far too brief, the impact of his warmth and humor endures among those who loved him. He will be remembered for the brightness he brought to everyday life and for the many small ways he made the people around him smile.