John Daniel I Pollins

In Loving memory of John Daniel Pollins

Mr. John Daniel Pollins, 31, was born December 13, 1992 to Kevin J. Pollins and Kim Sellers Pollins in Mesa, Arizona. John Daniel, better known as "Sayin' Shark," was called home to his heavenly Father on Sunday, September 22, 2024. John Daniel had a personal relationship with Jesus the Christ, he prayed in private places and would often say to his mother, "Ya know Ma, God loves me." He was baptized at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was a member for many years.

John Daniel had an infectious smile, a mellow carefree way about him and a laugh that was genuine. His sense of creativity was established at a young age and never waned, and he often wrote lyrics and crafted ideas for fashion.

As a child, John Daniel enjoyed soccer until he discovered basketball. John Daniel traveled, played AAU basketball under his dad-coach Pollins. He played point guard at Desert Ridge and Basha High Schools. Coach Pollins would say he excelled at the game. John Daniel graduated from Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona. He attended Chadler Gilbert Community College for a while, studying to become an RN.

In 2011, John Daniel became ill and stopped attending college. In 2013, he was diagnosed with a serious mental illness. The road ahead for him was challenging, but he persevered by creating music, singing and writing lyrics. He loved hip hop and his grandmother would say he had a beautiful voice. John Daniel enjoyed traveling to California with his siblings. In 2015, John Daniel and his mother took a road trip to Monterrey, CA, where he enjoyed eating seafood and going to the beach. He spent most of his life in Arizona before moving to Charlotte, NC in September 2022. The following January 2023, he moved to York, SC with his mother and younger brother, Jordan.

There are no words to express the enormous loss to our family with his passing. John Daniel is preceded in death by both grandfathers, John D. Pollins (his namesake) and Nathan Sellers, Jr.; his paternal grandmother, Tanyia Pollins; and his great-grandmothers, Queen Esther Jackson and Cora Frey.

Family members remaining to celebrated John Daniel's life and light are: his parents, Kevin and Kim; siblings, Brihanna Nicole Pollins and Jordan Isaiah Pollins; maternal grandmother, Beverly Sellers; uncles: Gregory Sellers (Sabrina) and Christopher Sellers; his great uncles, Darryl and James Jackson, Jr.; his great aunt, Cynthia Ebigwei; and a host of cousins and friends.

The Pollins Family requests in lieu of flowers send donations to Mental Health America, Charlotte, NC. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank everyone for prayers, support and love during this difficult time.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at the funeral home from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm, with the funeral service to follow at 1:00 pm.

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