Obituary for
Ver'Shawn P. London
Life
Devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. Ver’Shawn passed away suddenly, after a very brief illness. He was surrounded by love and comfort as he transitioned from this life to the next.
Ver’Shawn, the oldest of Paul and Janice’s children, was born in Mount Vernon, NY on August 08, 1968 to Paul D. Smallwood and Janice L. Tarrant, who married shortly after his birth. Subsequently, two more children came from this union; Tamika (Smallwood) Buxton and Casonya Smallwood-Butler. Additional siblings were later added to the flock; Colleen Barksdale, Ebony Smallwood, Wakita Smallwood, Paul D. Smallwood, II (Roman), David Ash, and Tyrone Davis.
During his early childhood years Shawn moved between Mount Vernon, the Bronx, and Yonkers before finally settling in Rockland County, NY in Jr. High. This formative time in his life facilitated the growth that would cement the type of magnanimous man Rockland County would grow to love and admire. Shawn attended Spring Valley Jr. High School and Ramapo Senior High School where he simultaneously completed a Culinary Arts at BOCES Tech in West Nyack, NY his last two years of high school. After some time working in hospitality he attended SUNY Rockland Community College.
Shawn was the proud, fearless, faithful father to three children; Tommy Jones, Shaton Jones, and Amiah London.
Church
In Ver’Shawn’s early days, he grew up in the Faith Temple Church of the Living God, COCWIH in Spring Valley NY; where he received his Christian education and instruction under the leadership of his late Great Uncle Bishop Sidney Buxton, Sr. and his Great Aunt Evangalist Lela Buxton. Shawn was part of the Faith Temple Youth and Mass Choirs under the leadership of the late Bishop Ernest Buxton, Sr. Shawn began the Drama Club where the youth department would put on plays during holidays and special occasions. This is where Ver’Shawn began his love for acting and working with young people. As a youth, he was able to grab his audience as he tirelessly worked and taught directly with them; enjoying every step and every song as a group. This pivotal time sparked his creativity. Shawn also was a leading member of The Faith Temple Youth Gazette, which was a monthly newsletter for the church. Shawn would go around and interview the saints on various topics that would later be posted in the upcoming Gazette News. Additionally, he served faithfully on the Faith Temple Nurses Unit where he assisted in service to the Ministers and Mothers on the pulpit.
Ver’Shawn was very well rounded and always loved helping everyone. Shawn loved singing and anytime he was asked to assist with praise and worship, you knew what his opening song would be: “Send Him on Down, Lord Let the Holy Ghost Come on Down.”
Work
In his quest to improve not only his life, but the lives of his siblings, Shawn began working at the age of 14 at Red Lobster in Nanuet, NY, after school. He would later hold an after school job at Howard Johnson’s in Nanuet before settling in to Denny’s for a number of years where he climbed the ranks to eventually become General Manager, concurrently Shawn worked at St. Agatha’s New York Foundling Hospital in Nanuet, NY for several years. After his tenure at Denny’s, Shawn continued in the restaurant business as a manager at Applebees in Suffern, NY. Shawn worked there for many years before switching to a career in education; first at Chestnut Ridge Middle School and then at Kakiat STEAM Academy, where he worked until his untimely death. During this time, Shawn also worked for ARC, for several years, caring for his beloved Dariel. Ver’Shawn along with his sister, Casonya, were also licensed foster parent for KidsPeace for over a decade; during this time they guided and nurtured many foster/adoptive children in their home. Their lives were connected in every way; they lived together for 33 years and became homeowners together.
Over the years, Shawn promoted many fashions shows in Rockland County through his nonprofit London Stars, which later became Fashion House of London (FHL). From the early days at The Silhoutte in Spring Valley, NY to the Loius Kurtz Civic Center to SUNY Rockland Community College to the Palisades Mall, Shawn had everyone cheering, “Walk for Me!”
School District (Kakiat STEAM Academy)
Ver’Shawn was transferred to Kakiat STEAM Academy in 2018 where he passionately served as a teaching assistant, with Ms. Barrow, on the sixth grade team, as well as additional roles throughout the building. Ver’Shawn was a gentle force that greatly impacted the culture at Kakait STEAM Academy. He was known as Mr. London by everyone at Kakiat, and he made sure every day that all scholars and staff members were greeted with his infectious smile. London’s teaching philosophy was rooted in the idea that all scholars and staff members deserve love and compassion regardless of what happened the previous day. As a teaching assistant, Mr. London worked 1:1 with any scholar in need, and often facilitated mini groups to ensure all learners fully grasped the main concept. After his first year at Kakiat, Mr. London also began serving as a substitute teacher whenever needed in the building. His proudest achievement was receiving the long term substitute position as Kakiat’s health teacher for the middle school scholars. London greatly enjoyed leading the classroom, and dedicated his time in that position to teaching his students about the importance of positive mental health and the negative impact of drug abuse. He believed in positive reinforcement and would often reward his students to celebrate any progress made. In the hallways, London would even pass out sweet treats and breakfast sandwiches to any person he encountered throughout the day. Not even a pandemic could stop London from recognizing scholars. When Kakiat transitioned to remote learning in 2020, London would safely drive to the homes of scholars to deliver their rewards because he believed that during those trying times Kakiat scholars needed to be celebrated for their commitment to their education and resiliency. His passion for helping the Kakiat scholars was so large, London even enrolled in Teacher Education courses at Western Governors University so that he can advance in his career and be even more resourceful for scholars.
Outside of the classroom, London served as the advisor for Kakiat’s Multicultural and Builders Club where he dedicated countless hours working with the members of the club on embracing and celebrating diversity. He brought his passion for fashion to the club and trained scholars and staff members on how to runway model. Through his efforts, the Multicultural and Builders club executed two Fashion Shows at Kakiat, where the school community learned what it really meant when Mr. London said, “Walk for Me.” Additionally, Mr. London believed in celebrating people in the moment, so he hosted Gala styled events at Kakiat which allowed the middle school scholars and staff to put on their best outfits and dine in luxury while he awarded individuals for their dedication to the club’s mission. Mr. London was a phenomenal advisor to his club members and he would be filled with pride whenever he heard one of his executive-board members during the morning announcements, excitedly exclaime, “We are a proud member of Kakiat’s Multicultural and Builders Club.”
Eternity
Ver’Shawn is preceded in death by his Grandparents; Nathaniel Smallwood and Margaret Bullock; his father, Paul, who passed in 2001 and his mother, Janice, who passed just six weeks before him, in April 2023. He leaves to cherish his Life and Legacy his three children; Tommy Jones and his wife Janena; Shaton Jones, and Amiah London. His siblings Tamika Buxton, Casonya Smallwood-Butler and her husband Steven Butler, Colleen Barksdale, Ebony Smallwood, Wakita Smallwood, Paul D. Smallwood, II, David Ash, and Tyrone Davis. His grandchildren; Elizabeth, Jaliyah, Zaykwon, VerShawn, and Sapphire. His nieces and nephews; Tory Butler and his wife, Alex; Tiffany Butler; Tiezst Taylor, Maliah Buxton-Clark and her husband, Zach; Xavier Thomas; Melissa Simo; and Trayvon Smallwood, who was like a son to him. Shawn also leaves to mourn his great nieces and nephews Gilissa, Azaria, Gabe, Kaia, Rowan, and Kai. Equally impacted is his favorite cousin, Hilda Bennett and his best friend/sisters of 40 years, Michelle Buxton, Sheila McGee Pilgrim, and Faye Pettiford; and a special cousin, Pastor Vera Lee-Brown (Stan).
Walk of Honor Speech
Hello, my name is Jacqueline Rivera, and I am also known as “Mrs. Jackie”. I first met Ver’Shawn London at a fashion show in Ramapo High School. I was very impressed by his professionalism, his amazing charisma and his love for kids and young people. I can see right away that the young people respected him and loved him very much, and that made a big impact on me. Soon after that we found out that we worked for the same school district, so we connected and started working in different afterschool programs together in the community, including the Multicultural and Builders Club in the Kakiat Steam Academy. Ver’Shawn had a passion for fashion, but he had a special gift of working with young people. His professionalism, his patience, his discipline, his kindness, his generosity, but most of all his love for the kids and young people was something to behold. As I think about Ver’Shawn I think about a Bible verse I would love to share. 1Corinthians 13:13 says “I know these three remain: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.” I can truly say that Ver’Shawn changed so many young people’s lives for the better by letting them know that they were loved. By giving them opportunities to feel accomplished. By giving them the tools they needed to succeed in whatever they do and encouraging them to believe in themselves. Ver’Shawn was an amazing friend to so many and myself. He touched so many lives in so many ways. We are all here because Ver’Shawn made an impact in our lives in one way or another. Today we gather here to honor him for his kindness. Even now, on his last walk he shows this great act of kindness. I would like to share a quote that has always been special to me by Maya Angelou. It says, “People will always forget what you say, people will always forget what you do, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Those who touch our lives stay in our hearts forever. Ver’Shawn always walked in love for his family, friends, and his kids and the community. I will quote one last great person, our dear friend Ver’Shawn London. Vershawn would say “Walk for me!“. So today, let us walk for him by walking as he walks with love and kindness in everything we do and everywhere we go and let’s be fabulous doing it. Ver’Shawn we will miss you and you will always be in our hearts.
Feature Article in the Rockland Journal News
Vershawn London focused on enriching young lives as a teachers aide in the East Ramapo schools, as a mentor, and as founder and CEO of Fashion House of London, where he offered lessons in poise and presentation and put on fabulous fashion shows around the region so young people could shine.
His signature saying, "Walk for me," encouraged kids to embody confidence.
London fell ill on May 12 with bacterial meningitis. At Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, he was placed on life support. He died May 25 at age 54.
In his final hour, London was escorted by family and community on an Honor Walk as organ donation surgery was planned. An Honor Walk allows hospital personnel to stand with the family and commemorate the donor.
In death, provided opportunity for others. Nearly 9,000 New Yorkers statewide — 131 of whom are children under the age of 18 — are waiting for a lifesaving transplant, according to United Network for Organ Sharing.
More than 100 showed up at Good Sam for the Honor Walk, to say goodbye. Former students and their parents from East Ramapo schools were there, as were two school board members and so many others.
Outside the hospital, they gathered as LiveOnNY officials raised a flag in London's honor, a salute to his gifts. Gasps and sobs could be heard.
Hempstead Elementary teaching assistant Jackie Rivera had previously worked with London, who was recently a teachers aide at Kakiat STEAM Academy.
Rivera discussed London's "passion for fashion" and how he put on fashion shows that helped build kids' confidence. "Vershawn saved so many," she said to the crowd that encircled her, many of whom nodded in agreement, "giving them the opportunity to feel accomplished.
"We are all here because Vershawn made an impact on our lives," Rivera said. "Even now, in his last walk, he shared his grace." Then, she called out London's catchphrase: "Walk for me!" Rounds of resounding "Walk for me!" were returned.
Vershawn London was born in Mount Vernon and resided there, in Yonkers, and the Bronx before moving up to Rockland County with his father, Paul Smallwood. He was an active member of Faith Temple Church in Spring Valley.
A wake is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Friday, June 2, at First Baptist Church in Spring Valley. The funeral follows at noon at First Baptist. Burial will be at Brick Church Cemetery.