A Celebration of Life

Joshua Alexander Craig, Jr.

"I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith."  - I Timothy 4:7

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, God extended His Almighty and Powerful Hand out to Joshua Alexander Craig, Jr. and took him home; another Angel has been called to the Family of Heaven.

Joshua, also affectionately called "Josh" by his family and "Joshie" by his mom, was born on January 5, 2001, to Tameika Y. Cave and Joshua L. Craig, Sr. in Warrenton, VA.

Josh attended public school in Fauquier County, VA and had many friends.  He was on the varsity football and basketball team at Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Va from which he graduated in 2020. If you spoke with anyone that knew Josh, they would say how well-mannered and polite he was. He was well loved by his teachers and peers.

Josh was known for his sense of humor. As a first grader, he surprised his teacher and classmates by bringing a dead snake to school for show-n-tell. In the third grade his grandmother Emily (Penny) went to have lunch with him.  Her nickname for Josh was "Pumpkin". When she sat at the lunch table, she greeted him by saying "Hey Josh! How is your day going?"  She called him Josh that day because she didn't want to embarrass him in front of his friends, but with his quick wit he responded "Grandma, I'm not Josh, I'm your Pumpkin!"

Josh would call or text his mother every day and even on his last day here with us.  He sent her a text saying, "ok beautiful" and that is how he would always end their conversations. He was so charming and could melt your heart.  He had a deep love and respect for his mother, a protector and friend to her and his siblings.

Josh was the brother to 2 sisters: Aaliyah and Ashlyn; one brother Daylen whom he loved dearly. He was always there for them to talk to and give guidance. He made it a point to mentor his brother in football and give him pointers from the sideline.

His journey in the professional world led him to car sales. As a natural entrepreneur, he attended national conferences to enhance his craft.  Maturing to the point of brokering, developing, and working contracts with his father.  Ending up at The Park at Fourteenth, where he was training to bartend. He was looking forward to starting school at the end this month to obtain his CDL license.

Josh was a sports fanatic and was a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. As an athlete he stood out in football, basketball, and he recently started skiing and golfing with his father. He loved to fish, cook on the grill for his mother, travel, and spend time with his family. He enjoyed watching cooking shows and was proud of his cooking skills and thought he was a chef. He found joy in preparing his favorite meal of ribeye steak and chicken.  He had become more conscious of what he was eating and started to eat more cleaner and healthier.  He was excited about his upcoming trip to Miami with friends that he was planning this year.

His favorite tv shows were Ozark, Peeky Blinders and Grey's Anatomy where you could find him snacking on Flamin' Hot Limon Doritos.  He watched so many Grey's Anatomy episodes that he self-diagnosed himself because he kept getting a rash and he determined that it was a gluten allergy.  He changed his eating to gluten-free and the rash went away, and we were all amazed.

Josh was blessed to have loving grandparents that survived him: maternal grandmother and grandfather Emily (Penny) Cave and James Cave, paternal grandparents John and Jacqueline Smith and a paternal grandmother Carol Lynn Philips who preceded him in death as well as his uncle Shaquille Philips.

He leaves to cherish his memories: mother Tameika Y. Cave, father Joshua L. Craig, Sr.; siblings Aaliyah M. Craig, Daylen J. King, and Ashlyn L. Hogan; grandparents Emily (Penny) Cave, James Cave, John and Jacqueline Smith; his best friends Devin and Damond Lewis, and Tyce Duncan along with a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Also cherishing his memory is his special friend Christine Garay.