Ajani D. Lewis Jr., eighth grader who was ‘the best big brother,’ dies

Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun
·3 min read

Ajani D. Lewis Jr., an eighth grade honor roll student in Baltimore County who was known for his vivaciousness and infectious smile, died of sickle cell disease April 23 at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. The Rosedale resident was 14.

“He was an amazing, jovial and noble young man who was just a fun guy to be around,” said the Rev. M. Jamal Foster, pastor of Greater St. John Baptist Church in Dundalk, where Ajani was a member.

“He was a good kid who never gave his parents any problems and died way too soon,” he said.

Ajani DeJuan Lewis Jr., who was known as Jani and A.J., was the son of Ajani D. Lewis Sr., a postal worker, and Brittany Pitts, a nursing administrator. Born in Baltimore, he was the stepson of Alexander Davis Sr., a state administrator.

He attended Baltimore public schools and later Golden Ring Middle School after moving to Rosedale — and was always an honor roll student, family members said.

After graduating from Golden Ring Middle this year, he was set to attend Overlea High School in the fall.

Ajani planned on studying engineering at Morgan State University.

He recently began showing an interest in basketball and spent many days playing with his stepfather and his stepbrother, Alexander Davis Jr., in the driveway of their Rosedale home.

Ajani was planning on trying out for the Overlea High basketball team, family members said.

Born with sickle cell disease, he courageously fought it throughout his life.

“Ajani had an infectious smile and was known for being a very humble and kind-hearted young man,” wrote his mother, Brittany Pitts, of Rosedale, in a biographical profile of her son.

“Although he fought sickle cell all his young life, he never complained about anything. He answered every challenge that came his way and fought tirelessly to enjoy life with his family and friends.”

“We all don’t get to live a long life,” said Monique Pitts, an aunt who lives in Baltimore. “But we all have a lot of good memories of Ajani, but it still hurts. He was very smart and mature beyond his years, sweet and always smiling.”

When the Rev. Foster took over the congregation at Greater St. John Baptist Church, Ajani was one of the first people he became acquainted with.

“That was nine years ago, and we were in my predecessor’s study and he was this studious young man dressed in a suit, saying, ‘Pick me up! Pick me up!,'” said the Rev. Foster.

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“Then he got taller and today he stands at 6 feet and still says, ‘Pick me up!‘ and I say, ‘No, not today, bro,'” he said, with a laugh.

“Ajani was very active at church and he was the reason we brought back the Young People’s Choir,” he said.

In addition to spending time with his family, he liked spending time in his room playing games.

“He took pride in being the best big brother, always standing in as a role model,” his mother wrote.

“A.J. was so special, our first grandbaby,” Nathan Pitts, a former longtime Baltimore Sun editorial assistant, and his wife, Vera Pitts, maternal grandparents, of Baltimore, wrote in an email.

“He was smart, humble and appreciative of everything we did for him. To lose him at such a young age hurt us deeply, but we know that heaven needed a hero, and God took ours. We will love him forever and he will never be forgotten as long as we as a family can speak his name.”

Funeral services were held Tuesday at Greater St. John Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents and stepfather, maternal grandparents and aunt, Ajani is survived by paternal grandparents Anthony and Denis Lewis, of Silver Spring; fraternal grandparents Wilson and Robin Lucas, of Baltimore; step-grandparents Alexander and Nina Davis, of Baltimore; siblings Alexander Davis Jr. and Akeem Lewis, of Baltimore; sisters Agiyla Lewis and Amirah Davis, both of Baltimore, and Angel Lewis, of Florida; two uncles; two aunts; and many cousins.