A'Quria C. Sparkman Sr.

It is with heavy hearts and teardrops in our laughter that we bid farewell to the late A'Quria C. Sparkman, Sr who departed into the sunset on October 8, 2023.

Funeral Services will be 11am, Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 123 Helen Street with Rev. James Lane to give the eulogy. Burial will follow in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens. Viewing will be 10am, Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church until the time of services. Per the family request, please do not take any photos or videos inside of the church. You will be asked to leave.

A’Quria C. Sparkman Sr. was born to Patrice Payton and Ray A. Sparkman on January 18, 1983, in Michigan City, IN.

A’Quria attended Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church with his mother and grandmother as a child and later visited Community Christian Center and Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. 

A'Quria was a genius in his own right. After attending Michigan City Area Schools, he earned his GED.

He became a crane operator at Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. He was the life of the party at any company event, and his co-workers often said the only thing that worked harder than A'Quria was his sense of humor.

But A'Quria wasn't just about the jokes. He had a passion for life that was infectious. A football fanatic, an avid motorcycle and three-wheeler rider, and a swimming enthusiast – A'Quria was a man of many interests. But his favorite hobby was being with his family. He had a knack for turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories with his wit and charm. A'Quria's life was full of love and laughter, there was never a dull moment. A'Quria was a friendly soul who could make a friend in an empty room. His adventurous spirit was as contagious as his laughter, and his optimism was the punchline to every joke. A'Quria lived his life like a well-timed- full of surprises, joy, and a touch of the unexpected.

He leaves to mourn his memories, mother, Patrice Payton, father, Ray A. Sparkman, bonus dad in Rev. Michael Payton, he was graced with his maternal grandmother, Shirley Van Dyke, who always kept him on his toes. His loving family also included his fiancée, Shanta Kilgore, children A’Quria Sparkman Jr., Mi'Yana Sparkman, and A'Cadence Sparkman, bonus children Bri'Asia Giles, Maliyah Singh, and Michael Singh. His Uncle Rev. William (Renee) Eckwood and Aunts Barbara (Tommie) Crisp, Nancy Eckwood, and Charlotte Emery were his biggest fans, and he had a whole bandwagon of God-siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and special friends.

A'Quria C. Sparkman, Sr., was a man who knew how to live, laugh, and love. He was the embodiment of comedic timing, a beacon of joy in a sometimes too serious world. A'Quria had a larger-than-life character who will be sorely missed, but his laughter will echo in our hearts forever. So, here's to A'Quria, who sparked joy, laughter, and love wherever he went. His life was a comedy show we were all blessed to witness. Now, the stage is dark, the laughter has faded, but the memory of his performance will live on. 

He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Acie Van Dyke.

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