Joshua Waggoner
1990 – 2008
Lawrenceville, Ga

Josh was my firstborn child, and from the very beginning he was full of life. He had a way of lighting up every room he entered—always laughing, always smiling, always the life of the party. Even at just 17 years old, he had already touched more lives than I can count. It’s still hard to wrap my head around how someone so young could leave such a lasting impact, but that was Josh. He was an amazing son, brother, cousin, and friend.

Josh loved with his whole heart. When he cared about someone or something, he cared deeply and fiercely. He would stand up for his family without hesitation and fight just as hard for his friends, no matter the situation. His loyalty and passion were unmatched.

One of his greatest loves was rollerblading. It was more than a hobby—it was who he was. From morning to night, that’s all he wanted to do. Before he could even drive, I constantly heard, “Mom, take me to this rail. Mom, take me to that rail.” And even though I was raising three other children at the same time, most of the time I dropped everything and took him. Looking back now, I’m so incredibly thankful I did. Those rides, those moments, those small sacrifices mean everything to me. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

On March 26, 2008, Josh and his good friend Wayne spent the day rollerblading at some of their favorite spots. As they were heading home, they decided to stop one last time in Lawrenceville to skate the rail by the AMC movie theater. Josh had skated that rail countless times before without any problems. But for reasons we’ll never fully understand, that day didn’t go as planned. He attempted the rail, fell, and hit his head, landing at the bottom.

Despite medical intervention, surgeries, and every effort made, it wasn’t enough to keep my sweet boy here on earth.

Josh is still so deeply loved and so dearly missed by so many of us. His story, his smile, and his passion deserve to be remembered and shared. When I discovered this memory medallion, I knew I had to have it—so that everyone could see and hear Josh’s story, and so his light could continue to shine.

Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever my firstborn. 💙