My dearest Markus David Revels was born on June 17, 1987 in Evergreen Green Park, Illinois to Ledessia Dison (Revels) Moore and Luther Revels.

Markus grew up experiencing adventures around the world as a child born to a military family. He spent his childhood in Colorado, California, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and aboard in Iceland and Germany. Upon confession of his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, Markus was baptized and was received into the fellowship of the Episcopal Church.

I will fondly remember Markus as a child who played soccer and basketball. Instead of passing the ball he would drive straight to the goal! Markus was quite carefree with food choices and was content eating peanut butter-jelly sandwiches every day. Rite of passage for Markus included long showers declaring his personal style as 'having the dapper look mom!' At this difficult time, it is important for us to reflect on those good memories we all share. I recall one such memory of Markus making a friend at Disneyland in Paris, France. For him it was exciting to play hide and seek with his new friend, however, the game took him out of my eyesight which was terrifying for me as his mother.

We shared an adventurous spirit as we were truly connected. I reflect on the many experiences searching for him in Germany only to discover he was enjoying one of his many carefree moments with neighborhood friends. He is now experiencing a freedom that could not be attained on earth!

Markus was not only adventurous but also a seeker of knowledge. He read many books and completed the curriculum at Thomas S. Wootton High School as well as advanced course work at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD.

Family members that have preceded Markus in death include James and Annie Revels (paternal grandparents), Thomas James Lipscomb (maternal step-grandfather), Joe and Louella Moore (maternal great grandparents) along with uncles and aunts.

Surviving family members and loved ones include Ledessia Dison (Revels) Moore and Luther Revels (parents), Lillie Mae Lipscomb (maternal grandmother), Pastor Garnetta Revels Graham, Janice Leggett, Ruby Southerland and Juanita Revels (all paternal aunts), Jessie Lipscomb (maternal aunt), Raymond Lipscomb (maternal uncle), Eunice Johnson (maternal aunt), his life buddies Jim, Terron, Michael, Shawn, Steven and Maggie, Richard, Roger, Russell and a host of other loved ones.

My dearest Markus, I am devastated you are no longer here with me. My prayer is that you are now at peace as the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu believed: "If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present." This will be a long and hard adjustment for me. March 23, 2023 will be forever etched in my memory as you made your way from earth to eternal life.

I have lost my only son. My heart is broken, but one day there will be ultimate triumph when we are reunited. For you believed true victory is 'to have a heart as warm and relaxed as the hot spring. Ha Cha.'

Eternally
Your Dearest Mother