Maraleius Gardner-Birdsong was a natural ball of fire with a tremendous sense of humor. Known for his popcorn and Game Stop visits, he was attending Trident Technical College and pursuing a degree in electrical engineering. To help pay his way through school, Maraleius worked as a delivery driver for Domino's Pizza. Three months after his job stared, 20-year-old Maraleius was shot while making a delivery and died the next day. A registered donor, Maraleius saved the lives of four people, including his second cousin battling kidney disease. He was also able to give sight to two people through cornea donation and help countless others through tissue donation.

Maraleius's Story

Setting an example of giving, caring, compassion and love for all, Maraleius Gardner-Birdsong was a natural ball of fire with a tremendous sense of humor and a smile that warmed the hearts of everyone. His family's nickname for him was "Gummer/Bart," and he often referred to himself as a "Swaggaholic" or by his gaming name, "Eightieth-Beezy."

He was known for his popcorn and Game Stop visits. He loved family holiday dinners, birthdays and hanging out with his friends. He listened to all types of music, played sports, enjoyed going to the beach, and held deep conversations about God.

Maraleius attended Trident Technical College and was pursuing an associate degree in electrical engineering. He was earning straight A's and planned on transferring to The Citadel to obtain a bachelor's degree, his ultimate goal.

Along with going to college, Maraleius decided that another way to "grow up" was to get a job. By becoming a delivery driver for Domino's Pizza, he hoped he could help pay his way through school. Tragically, after just three months on the job and at the age of 20, Maraleius was shot while making a delivery on March 9, 2012. He died the next day.

A registered donor, Maraleius saved the lives of four people, including his second cousin battling kidney disease. He was also able to give sight to two people through cornea donation and help countless others through tissue donation.

Maraleius' mother, Teresa Gardner, said, "Our family has now experienced the blessings of both donation and being recipients. Two of our uncles received heart transplants. In fact, Maraleius' great uncle, Louis Byron Russell, Jr., received a heart transplant on August 24, 1968 at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital in Richmond. He was the 34th person in medical history to receive a heart transplant. At that time he was the longest living heart transplant recipient, living for six additional years with his newly transplanted heart. He died in November 1974 at the same hospital where he received his heart."