Antoine Gillespie, Jr.

With profound sorrow, the family of Antoine Gillespie, Jr., age 17, announces his passing on September 3, 2026.

Born on June 23, 2009, in Canton, Ohio, Antoine was a son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. His life was far too brief, but the love he gave, the relationships he formed, and the place he held within his family cannot be measured simply by the number of years he was here.

At just seventeen, Antoine still had so much life ahead of him. There were milestones yet to reach, places yet to go, dreams yet to pursue, and countless memories his family expected to make alongside him. His passing leaves an absence that words cannot adequately describe. Yet alongside that tremendous grief is gratitude for every moment, every laugh, every conversation, and every memory Antoine gave to those who loved him.

Antoine had a remarkable spirit and a presence that left its mark on the people around him. He belonged to a large family, and within that family he occupied many roles. Each relationship was different, each carried its own stories, and each now holds a piece of Antoine that will remain long after this difficult goodbye.

Antoine was the cherished son of Antoine M. Gillespie, Sr. and Clarissa Mathews.

He shared the special bond of siblings Jordan, Julian, Julius, Todd, Tariya, Taylor, Antwanae, and Aaliyah.

Antoine was also a much-loved uncle to Demaya, Hezakia, and Stephuan,
Though Antoine himself was still young, being an uncle was another special place he held within his family and another part of the legacy he leaves behind.

He was the beloved grandson of JoAnne E. Gillespie and Ronnie Gay. Antoine was preceded in death by his Grandmother, Mary Mathews and his Grandfather Harrison Keith, whose memory remains an important part of the family he leaves behind

Antoine is also lovingly remembered by his uncles, Anthony, Damon, William, Michael, William, Tee, Geovontae, and Jaiveontae; his aunts, Schamoannah, Domonique, Sierra, Shaneail, Melissa, and Latasha; his great-aunt, Juliana; and his cousins, Sophia and Geno.

He also leaves behind many additional relatives, extended family members, friends, classmates, and others whose lives crossed his own and who now carry their own memories of Antoine.

For a parent, there may be no words capable of adequately describing the loss of a child. Antoine’s father shared words that speak not only to the unimaginable pain of losing his son, but also to the extraordinary relationship and friendship they shared:

“It was an honor to be your Father and a gift to be your friend my son. Though my heart longs for you, I am grateful for the time and memories we shared. I’ll see you in heaven.”

And perhaps most powerfully:
“There is no greater love than a father’s love for his son, and there is no greater pain than a father’s pain over losing his son. Though my eyes cannot see you, my heart and my soul feel you. You have been one of my greatest joys and your loss my greatest pain.”

Those words express something an obituary can never completely capture. Antoine was not simply a name accompanied by two dates. He was someone’s child. He was a young man his parents watched grow. He was a brother whose place within his family can never be filled. He was a grandson, nephew, cousin, uncle, and friend whose absence will be noticed in countless little moments for years to come.

For Antoine’s family, the words of Psalm 103:13 offer comfort:
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

His family now faces something no family ever expects to face…learning how to carry forward when someone who should have had decades ahead of him is suddenly gone.

But saying goodbye to Antoine does not mean leaving him behind.

His name will continue to be spoken. His stories will continue to be told. His photographs will be treasured. There will be laughter when someone remembers something only Antoine would have said or done. There will undoubtedly be tears when his absence feels especially heavy. Birthdays, holidays, family gatherings, and ordinary days will bring memories rushing back.

And through all of it, Antoine will remain part of his family.

Helen Keller once wrote, “What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.”

For those who knew and loved Antoine, those words carry a special meaning. Seventeen years could never have been enough. There was still so much left unwritten in his story. But the chapters Antoine did write became intertwined with the stories of everyone who loved him.

The measure of a life is not found solely in its length. It can also be found in the people who remember it, the hearts changed by it, and the love that remains when that person is gone.

Antoine was loved deeply. And because he was loved deeply, he will be missed deeply.

Friends may call on Antoine’s family on Monday, September 14, 2026, from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Schneeberger-Oser Funeral Home, 2222 Fulton Road NW, Canton, Ohio 44709.

At 5:00 p.m., family and friends will gather at the funeral home for a Homegoing Celebration honoring Antoine’s life. Together, they will remember not simply the heartbreak of losing him, but the seventeen years they were blessed to have him…the young man he was, the relationships he shared, and the memories that will continue to keep him close.

For those unable to attend in person, Antoine’s Homegoing Celebration will be available via livestream through his obituary page on the Schneeberger-Oser Funeral Home website.

Antoine’s family warmly encourages everyone who knew him to contribute to the story of his life by sharing photographs, memories, stories, and condolences through his memorial page at www.SchneebergerFuneral.com. In the difficult days ahead and in the years to come, those shared memories will serve as precious reminders of the many people who knew him and the many lives that became part of his own.

The family of Antoine Gillespie, Jr. has entrusted his care and arrangements to the professionals at Schneeberger-Oser Funeral Home.

Antoine’s life ended far sooner than anyone was prepared for, but the love surrounding his life did not end with it.

He remains a son.
A brother.
A grandson.
An uncle.
A nephew.
A cousin.
A friend.

And to the people who loved him most, he will forever simply be Antoine.

Loved beyond words…missed beyond measure…remembered always.