James "Jimmy" Allen Myrick Jr.

On Friday, February 12, 2016, Jimmy Myrick Jr., 33, died after a 4 year battle with leukemia. He is survived by his loving and dedicated parents, Sharon (McCaffrey) Myrick and James Allen Myrick, Sr., his sister Jamie Lynn Myrick, nephew Matthew Ryan Myers, Jr., his grandmother Mary “Betty” McCaffrey and the many aunts, uncles, and cousins who cherished him. But most importantly he leaves a legacy of love, joy, and courage for the thousands of friends who were privileged to know him. Jimmy graduated from Parkdale High School in Riverdale, Maryland in 2001. Since the age of 8, Jimmy was a participant with the Maryland Special Olympics competing for teams in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County and the Upper Shore. He was a champion swimmer and basketball player. For 20 years Jimmy participated in the Polar Bear Plunge, an annual fundraising event for the Maryland Special Olympics. He was a founding member of the Super Plungers, a group of brave but crazy men and women who plunged into the cold waters of the Chesapeake Bay every hour for 24 hours. Due to his contributions to Special Olympics Maryland, in January 2016 Jimmy was honored by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan with the first-ever Governor’s Special Olympics Maryland Medal of Courage Award. Jimmy also served as a spokesperson for persons with intellectual disabilities. He appeared at dozens of events on behalf of Maryland Special Olympics to raise funds and awareness. Jimmy visited Capitol Hill on behalf of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to advocate for the ABLEAct and 20th Century Cures. He participated in the NDSS Buddy Walk and had his image featured in Times Square in New York City. Jimmy was passionate about the Maryland Twisters Eye of the Storm cheerleading team. As one of the first cheerleading teams in the nation for athletes with intellectual disabilities, the Eye of Storm has been national champions and an inspiration for all athletes in the cheerleading world. In 2015 Jimmy was featured in the film Champions League 2 produced by Nfinity and was honored with Maryland Twister Spirit Award and the IEP (Independent Event Producers) Award from Cheer and Dance Extreme. Jimmy gave to others to inspire hope in others battling cancer. Jimmy was an active fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and for the past 4 years he purchased and distributed blankets to other patients with cancer at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) as well as at the Hospital of the University Pennsylvania Oncology in 2015. Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Friday, February 19, 2016 from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church located at 1861 Harbor Drive, Chester, MD 21619. A mass of Christian burial will be offered at 1:00 p.m. Interment St. Peter’s Cemetery, Route 50, Queenstown, MD. In observance of the Lenten season, flowers will not be allowed in the sanctuary. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that expressions of love and sympathy be made with a memorial contribution to Cheer 4 All, 8359 Sycamore Road, Millersville, MD 21108.

James "Jimmy" Allen Myrick Jr.

September 18, 1982 - February 12, 2016