Kenneth Darrell James, Jr. was born on June 14, 1990 in Denver, Colorado, to parents, Kenneth Darrell James, Sr. and Sabrina Roshelle Clopton. Kenneth was the second child born to Kenneth and Sabrina. Kenneth was raised surrounded by his sister, La’Tavia Denise James; and two brothers, Michael Lee Clopton and William Henry Martin, III. At the age of two, Kenneth was known to sit by his mother and watch her sleep with a smile on his face. He was affectionally called “NeNa” or “Smiley” by his family and friends. Before Kenneth started to attend school and during his school years, he was cared for by his great grandmother, the late Erma Jean Jennings, in her daycare, Happy Face Daycare. He shared his daycare experience with his cousins, Chardionia, Winston, and Xavier. Growing up, he also spent time over his Uncle Roberts and Aunt Nakisha’s house playing with his cousins, TeShawn, Cassandra, and Marques. At the age of 10, Kenneth started to play little league football with the Montbello Falcons. By age 11, Kenneth continued his little league football career playing with the Shamrock organization where he played with his cousins Xavier Jennings and Robert Winston Jennings III. The Shamrock team was known to build leaders. He completed his secondary education by attending Smith Elementary, Hill Middle, and Aurora Central High School, finally receiving his General Education Diploma, GED. He continued his education by taking the trade school class to receive his Flagger License. Kenneth was a leader; he functioned with dedication and commitment in every position he worked. He became a manager at McDonalds, where he worked with his mother, Sabrina. Kenneth was laboring in construction clean up alongside his mother when he passed. When Kenneth was not working, he enjoyed spending time with the love of his life, Patshay Abrams. Kenneth was always surround by family. No matter what he was doing, he was known to always be smiling. He enjoyed spending time loving on and having kickbacks with his Sister, La’Tavia. She was her brother’s keeper. He also enjoyed watching his nieces, Jamiya, Jahvaiy and Janalya. Kenneth loved playing videos games with his younger brother and friends, and attending family barbeques every weekend. He was also known as a diehard Dallas Cowboy’s fan.Kenneth will always be remembered for the infectious smile he carried with him daily. He was very helpful especially to his mother, whom he took great care of up to his passing. Kenneth is preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert Lee Clopton, Sr., and Debora Ann Jennings-Clopton; his great grandparents, Robert Winston “Bob” Jennings, Sr. and Erma Jean Jennings; uncle, Robert Winston “Bobby” Jennings, II, and aunt, Tiffany L. Simon. Kenneth Darrell James, Jr. departed this life to sit with the Lord on October 9, 2017 in Aurora, Colorado at University of Colorado Hospital. Those left to cherish is memory include his mother, Sabrina Roshelle Tate (Nathaniel Tate); father, Kenneth Darrell James, Sr; one sister; La’Tavia Denise James; two brothers, Michael Lee Clopton, William Henry Martin III; grandparents, Barbara Ann Clopton, Robert “Grand Pa Nino” and Billie Ann Whitlock, Hovies James, JoLynn Harris; one great aunt, Rhonda Venters; life partner, Patshay Abrams; and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, other relatives and friends that will remember him and miss him daily
Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 10/26/2017 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 10/27/2017 at 11:00 AM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Cemetery: 10/27/2017 - St. Simeon Cemetery - 22001 Colorado 30 Aurora, CO