Javaries Armour loved life, football and making people laugh. “He just enjoyed being a kid,” said his grandfather Norphe Royal Sr.
“He was a very sweet, loving and friendly child,” added his aunt Connie Armour. “He could make you laugh all the time.”
An Atlanta native, Javaries spent the summers in Augusta with his grandparents and hanging out with his uncle Norphe Royal Jr., known as “Uncle Junior” to Javaries. “He wanted to follow my steps,” said Norphe Royal Jr.
Javaries had dreams of being a professional football player, just like his uncle who has dreams of being a wide receiver. He played recreational football with friends and his favorite positions to play were quarterback and running back. The Falcons fan “loved to tackle,” added the elder Royal.
“He always kept a smile on your face, kept you laughing,” said his mother Frances Armour. “He was very intelligent and wanted to succeed in life,” added his aunt Denise Covington.
Javaries Armour, of Augusta died Friday of a brain tumor. He was 13. A service will be held Monday at the chapel of A.S. Turner & Sons, 2773 North Decatur Road, Decatur.
“He gave me a lot of strength, he put up a fight,” said his aunt.
Javaries attended Thomasville Heights Elementary School in Southeast Atlanta until fifth grade. He attended sixth grade at Glenn Hills Middle School in Augusta. Once treatment began, his teachers in Augusta visited him frequently to tutor him.
“I went through it with him,” added his grandmother Alfreda Royal. In the midst of taking Javaries to radiation she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
“He told me, ‘I couldn’t leave you when you got sick, you been taking care of me cause I was sick, we’re going to have to go through this together,’ ” she said. “That made me feel so good, that he had that much love for me.”
His aunt La’Toya Royal added that he always checked on her when she wasn’t feeling well. “He always told us he loved us before we went to sleep,” she said.
“He loved his family,” said Covington. “And he was loved by his family.”
Javaries is also survived by his father, Darrell Culpatrick.
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