The Smile

Why I Write Smile Articles

That is a simple question, and it is pictured above. When God gave me this young man, this little tiny baby to raise in 1971, he gave me that incredible smile.

Why I Chose That Photo

That question is simple also, because it showed the world and the people around him at that chosen moment, just how this young man affected the world.

It was just one of many photos that Richard L Jacobs smiled in. His younger brother, and his only sibling, once commented, he always had that incredible grin on his face. It was apparent when looking at old photos, that he always had a smile on his face, even in the darkest of times in his life.

His smile warmed everyone around him. However, I wondered that in troubled times, and we all have them, did he frown when no one could see him. If he did, he did not let anyone see it.

This Photo

This very photo shows you so much of my son, and his personality. He was always an optimist. That smile has shined through the gloomiest of times, for him and everyone he met.

That picture is how most everyone remembers him. A happy young man who projected that smile to everyone he ever met. He had the warmest personality and the biggest heart of anyone you have ever met.

People instantaneously loved Rick, because he truly cared for everyone he met. He liked some more than others, but he felt there was good in everyone, if you just looked hard enough for it.

He was kind, loving, and caring, and that is a rare find in today's world.

His name was Richard L Jacobs Jr. and he was my son. He was born on a bright sunny day on February 16, 1971. It was the greatest day of my life. He was the best and greatest son a mother could ask for.

As A Four Year Old

We were living in Queen Creek Arizona, while Rick's father was in the Air Force. He slipped away from me in the housing development that we lived in. Paniced I quickly looked for him, and when I found him, he was throwing a ball to a little boy, in a wheelchair. The little boy's mother was watching with a smile on her face.

I told Ricky as we called him as a little boy, that he scared me, and he told me this. "Mommy, no one wants to play with Johnnie, because he has to sit in a chair all the time". "But I don't mind Mommy, because Johnnie is a lot of fun, and the only thing wrong with him, is his legs don't work. And I don't mind chasing the ball for him, Johnnie is really nice".

Johnny's mother had tears in her eyes, and she said to me, "Your son will grow up to be an exceptional young man, he has the kindness and compassion that is rarely found in adults, no less a child".

Johnnie's Mother Was Right

Through the next forty years, I found out that Johnnie's mother was right. Everyone seemed to be touched by this wonderful young man, some people took advantage of his kind nature, and eventually he was brutally murdered because of it.

When five Delaware State Policeman came to my house, on the early morning of March 28th 2015, to tell me my son had been shot to death, by an unknown gunman, I simply asked them this. "Who would want to shoot Richard, everyone loved Richard", and loved them they did, except one person, who was evil and very sick indeed. Rick was kind and loving, but I must have failed him in some ways, because he grew up thinking there was some good in everyone, if you just looked hard enough.

I was wrong and I didn't prepare him, and it cost him his life.

Richard L Jacobs Jr, was shot and killed by Anthony E McDonald on the evening of March 27,2015, at 11:20 pm. He was 44 years old.