Obituaries » DEQUAINTUS MARQUILLA CLEVELAND

DEQUAINTUS MARQUILLA CLEVELAND

January 26, 1986 - March 12, 2023

Burial Date: March 25, 2023

Visitation will be held Friday, March 24, 2023 at Jackson - Highley Funeral Home Chapel, West Helena Arkansas from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at New Haven Missionary Baptist Church, West Helena Arkansas. We will follow CDC guidelines:  mask, hand sanitizer, and the social distance standard of 6ft apart. Mr. Cleveland's service may be viewed live through ZOOM. Here are the ZOOM instructions: If you do not have the ZOOM app already, please download it prior to the service. Topic: Funeral Service for Mr. Dequaintus Cleveland will be held at New Havem M.B. Church,  West Helena AR Time: Mar 25, 2023 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85661299746?pwd=NU9FU0taREZzeHMrSmU5Z3JNY2k2QT09 Meeting ID: 856 6129 9746 Passcode: 754686

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“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28

It was Super Bowl Sunday, January 26, 1986, when Heaven dispatched a delicate soul to the township of Helena, Arkansas. During his temporary sojourn on the earth, this soul would come to be known as DeQuaintus Marquille Cleveland. Entrusted to the parental stewardship of Sherry Cleveland and Glenn Kones, and reared under the ancestral wisdom of Rev. Allen and Bessie Cleveland, this son was wholly and holy loved.

Quaintus received a great gift in his stepfather Freddie Richardson, who is a hardworking man of strong character and godly principles, something no doubt was influential in helping Freddie fulfill his role in the upbringing of his stepson. Quaintus was elated to become the big brother to Freddreka, the baby girl who completed their family unit. He was equally excited to spend time with his big brothers, along with the love of his stepmother Mrs. Ruthie Pride.

Quaintus secured his eternal destiny in the early years of his life by accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized at Freedonia Missionary Baptist Church in West Helena, Arkansas. The spiritual foundation laid by his parents and grandparents was undergirded by Quaintus’ attendance and involvement in weekly services, Sunday school, and youth activities at Freedonia Missionary Baptist Church and later New Haven Missionary Baptist Church.

Quaintus was educated in the public school system of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. Upon receiving his GED, Quaintus entered the workforce. Quaintus made an instant impact on everyone who met him.

Despite his challenges, it was his music and the love he had for his children that helped Quaintus persevere. Above all else, it was his momma’s love that was his constant reassurance. Even during the last days of his life, Quaintus unashamedly told the medical staff that “my momma’s coming.”

On the eve of Sunday, March 12, 2023, the delicate soul that had come to be known as DeQuaintus was summonsed back to his heavenly home. Quaintus stood betwixt two, having the desire to depart and seize the rest awaiting his soul, and having the desire to remain with us.

Among those who remain for which Quaintus was a light in their lives and lives now in their hearts are parents: Sherry (Freddie) Richardson and Glenn Kones of Helena, Arkansas; sons: Aerik Kopplin and Isaiah (Zya) Poley; daughter: Autumn (Zaya) Poley; siblings: Rico (Tiffany) Kones, Sr. of Sherwood, Arkansas, Marquila D. Kones of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Stephanie (Jamar) Webster, Denorea Kones of Little Rock, Arkansas, Kaina Jones of Memphis, Tennessee, Christopher (Ashley) Kones of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Freddreka Richardson of Portage, Indiana; aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of extended family members and friends. We take comfort in the certainty of our glorious reunion with him in eternity!