In Memory of Michael Major: Family Support Needed

Hello everyone,

We are the sons of Michael Major. The Major family is beyond heartbroken to announce the unexpected passing of our dad and our rock, Michael Dwayne Major. He was known to many as “Big Maj,” “Major,” “Mike,” and most importantly “GaGa” to his 3 granddaughters. Our dad passed away unexpectedly on October 14, 2024, from a suspected heart attack but had other comorbidities that he fought throughout his life. He will be missed by his sons, daughters, daughter-in-law, granddaughters, and the rest of our family and friends. He passed just a week before his 75th birthday, which was on October 21st.

What happened:

On the morning of October 14, 2024, his youngest son woke up to the calls for help from his dad downstairs at approximately 7:30am. His son Marcos came to the stairs only to find his dad at the bottom steps slouched over after collapsing due to loss of consciousness. Marcos immediately called 911 and was able to get the attention of neighbors to help in getting his dad to the ground to start CPR. While awaiting EMS, his son started and continued CPR until their arrival on his own dad. While many know the cracking of ribs may occur sometimes during CPR, it is different having to hear it happen to family during their last moments. Nonetheless, Marcos continued until EMS arrived. They transported his dad to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

His Impact on society:

Our dad had an impact on so many people in this world. He was a pillar of strength in our lives and the lives of many others. He sacrificed for so many people throughout his life without hesitation. Not only was he a youth counselor in group homes early in his career, but he also continued to make a difference in our society by serving as a Probation Officer with Sacramento County. His son recalls a situation in which one of his former inmates approached them in the store and thanked his dad for what he did and said while he was incarcerated at the juvenile detention facility. He said that Michael was the father figure he never had who showed him tough love so he would change his path in life to succeed. He also said he wouldn’t have the job, house, and family he had if it wasn’t for Michael. There are countless stories like this showing just how positive of an impact Micheal had on everyone who was blessed to interact with him.

Despite being a diabetic double foot amputee, our dad never let that stop him from being active with his granddaughters and going to the gym. Many friends, family, and even strangers would say, “he gets around more than me” because he continued to stay busy despite the physical and health setbacks. He was constantly sacrificing to provide for his kids and granddaughters and made sure they had everything they needed and wanted, even if he had to go without to make it happen. No matter how tired he was, he would never say no to his “poo-poo heads” (granddaughters) wanting to come over or do something. It would be an understatement to say he was a fighter throughout his lifetime on this planet. Michael's legacy of compassion and selflessness will live on in the lives he touched. He was not just a father and grandfather but a mentor and friend to many. His commitment to helping others serves as an inspiration for all of us. He donated a countless amount to charities and volunteered much of his time to many communities, hoping to make a difference in this world.

Why we are asking for your help:

Due to this passing being so unexpected, the family is asking for any help with funeral and last-minute life expenses. Some of the many things your contributions will be helping with are the funeral services as previously mentioned, as well as funding for his 3 granddaughters' extra-curricular activities. He was paying for many of these activities, such as cheerleading, soccer, and tuition for their schooling. He preached obtaining the best education possible as being one of the most important things someone should seek. These funds will also help with aiding his youngest son in having to unfortunately move from the home he and his dad lived. These are just some examples of the things he gave his time, energy, and money to throughout his lifetime and some of the many ways your contributions will help. Again, we are also seeking any kind words and prayers during this incredibly challenging time.

Our Appreciation:

While we understand times are tough financially for many with this economy, we wanted to say thank you for even taking the time to read our story and for considering supporting our family during this difficult time. Your generosity means more than words can express. Even if you cannot contribute monetarily, please don’t hesitate to reach out with kind words or to simply get to know us more.

Services and details:

We will be having his celebration of life services at Saint Paul’s Hall at 8720 Florin Rd Sacramento, CA at 1:30pm Saturday November 23, 2024. While we understand many won’t be able to attend, all are welcome, and any contributions will be used in part to fund the services. In general, we will be providing updates on how your contributions are making an impact in our lives as we process this loss together.

Please consider sharing this campaign with your friends and family to help spread the word. Your support, whether through donations or sharing kind words, is greatly appreciated. If you’d like to reach out via IG or facebook, please feel free to reach out to his son Marcos through the information provided below. He can also get you in contact with the others. Again, thank you for your support and we hope to connect with any or all of you. Also, if you’ve made it this far, apologies for our long story.

Thank you,

The Major Family