“For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.” – Psalm 132
On Friday, June 23, 2023, Edward Carl Knox Jr. went on to Zion, after a personal struggle with cancer. He was 71, and a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Our “Scootie” was born August 13, 1951 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana: the 3rd child of Edward Sr. and Earline (Jacques) Knox. He was christened Catholic at St. Francis Xavier, where he attended elementary school for his eight formative years. He then attended Capitol High School and graduated as part of the class of 1969. He began studies at Southern University of Baton Rouge before continuing at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
His love of art, music, nature, and travel brought him to San Francisco, California where he thrived among the musicians and creatives of the Bay Area, which he made his home for four decades. In this time, he found both spiritual and musical inspiration from Rastafarianism. Known by the name Mobutu, he played in multiple reggae bands around the region. The tenets of this community can be seen in the way he carried himself through his final days of his life; in his focus on balance, respect for nature, community, naturalness, spirituality, family, the supremacy of life, and that the Divine is found in every human being.
Others who have gone before to greet him include, his mother Earline Jacques Knox, his father, Edward Carl Knox Sr.; his maternal grandparents; Harriet Colar Jacques and Richard Jacques; his uncle, Elliot Jacques Sr.; his aunt, Leticia Jacques, his brother, Robert Knox; his sister-cousin Virgie Ann Jenkins; his nephew, Curtis Patrick Truitt; his niece, Lisa La Chet Truitt; and other beloved relatives.
He leaves to cherish his memory one daughter (his legacy): Yamai Taina Knox (Oakland, CA); his four sisters: Deidra Knox (Saginaw, MI); Harriet Denise Jones (Lake Charles); Elizabeth Benton (Boynton Beach, FL); three brothers: Michael Knox [Sabrina] (Baton Rouge); Richard Knox (Baton Rouge); his “brother-son” John (Jonathan) Knox [Shelbe] (Alexandria, VA). He will be missed by his nieces: Shira, Nikki [Chris], Kofi, Alea, Chantel, Imani, and Evanna as well as his nephews: David, Kenzi, Nexus, John Jr., Mikey, Jacques, Xavier, and many loving great nieces, great nephews, and cousins. He would want us to be gracious, and thank a companion, Karen with whom he travelled much of his final journey. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the medical staff of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.
We rest in the word that, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” – Psalm 133 and are comforted that Edward is honored by our coming together and is received in the warmth of his family members who have gone before.