DaShawn "Shawnie" Bradford

DaShawn “Shawnie” Keandre Bradford was born on June 15th, 2002 in Wichita Kansas.  As a toddler he was adopted by his grandparents Rodger and Alyce Bradford along with two other siblings Brianna and Maurice Bradford.   His birth parents are Mrs. Julia Saunders and Jay Coleman.  DaShawn attended elementary school at Earhart Environmental Magnet. He attended middle school at both Brooks A Center for STEM and the Arts as well as Stucky.  At the time of his death he was a student at Heights High School.  Dashawn loved all of his brothers and sisters.  His other siblings include Trinity, Talayah and Kameron Coleman, Jayda Stanton  from liberal Kansas.   Marzel, Maliek, Treyvone and Jayvon Saunders from Wichita.  He cherished his baby brother Jayvon and his brother Maurice and he were inseparable. DaShawn also leaves to cherish his other grandparents Joe and Dorothy Coleman from Liberal Kansas and great grandmother Carolyn Williams from Moreno Valley, California.  If ever you were around DaShawn, you would quickly notice that he was a very smart, kind and sensitive kid.  He was loyal, he felt strongly for his friends and was very easy going. A fault and a strength was that he often followed.  But he was quickly learning that being a leader was the preferred way.  While we grief his tragic and sudden death, it is easy for us to smile when we think of how much he loved his family.  DaShawn was strong willed and had his hopes and aspirations set on being a professional baseball player.  His grandfather Rodger invested heavily in DaShawn and spent thousands of dollars each year and countless hours coaching and supporting DaShawn as he developed into an amazing athlete.  DaShawn loved being active and for the past 10 summers his dedication and commitment to playing on competitive All-star baseball teams was his priority.  If he could, he would eat baseball for dinner.  DaShawn had a very promising high school career in baseball and without a doubt was on his way to college to fulfil his dream of playing baseball at the next level.  His principal recently said, DaShawn was performing to his academic potential and Heights High School had their eyes set on him being one of the leaders on the baseball team. We will truly miss his smile, his silliness, and his kind heart.