Obituary for Darvin Lavae Porter
Reflections of Life
On September 14, 1959, the world was blessed with a shining star of hope and he was named Darvin
Lava Porter.
Darvin was born in San Augustine, Texas to Willie Ed and Jerry Dean Porter. Darvin was the 2nd of three
children in their union.
The Porter Family moved to Oakland, California in the early 1960s. Although he was raised in California,
he spent many summers at his grandparent’s in the countryside of San Augustine, TX. There he formed
many memories with his younger uncles, aunts and dear cousins. They spent countless hours forming
lasting relationships and many cherishable moments together.
He was raised Baptist and attended Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. George J.
Houston. He loved going to church with his parents and siblings as he participated in numerous youth
activities in the youth ministry. Darvin accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was baptized at
an early age.
Darvin’s entire education was within the Oakland Unified Schools District where he also received his
high school diploma.
Darvin met the love of his life, Brenda Dudley Porter, in elementary school. They were married on June
12, 1982 in Oakland, CA by his late uncle, Henry Tanner. And to their union were born two children,
Brianna and Andrianna Porter.
He was a loving friend to so many. He grew up being very active and creative along with his many
friends, doing things such as attending the Oakland Boys and Girls Club on 86th and E 14th Street in
Oakland, doing paper routes, making go carts and assisting the community while assorting recyclables.
He also had a love for sports, especially when it came to supporting his city’s teams such as the Oakland
A’s, Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders and the Golden State Warriors. He would attend many baseball
and football games at the Oakland Coliseum during his childhood. He later applied his leadership,
friendship and compassion for others as a loyal employee at FedEx, where he labored for over 30 years.
On Monday, December 13, 2021, God sought fit to wrap Darvin in his loving arms. He received his wings
into eternal glory. He was met with open arms from his family members who preceded him in death; his
grandparents, Arthur and Rose Ella Porter, Pierce and Zelma Wade, in-laws Renee Hamilton and Jessie
Tucker Sr, and late Uncles and Cousins.
Darvin leaves to forever cherish his memory, his parents Willie and Jerry Porter, his wife Brenda Porter
(39 years of marriage), their daughters Brianna and Andrianna Porter, siblings, Mariette Robinson, Eloise
Porter, John McCoy, God-Sister Staci Collier, Grandchildren Giovanni and Gianna Porter, Nieces Brittany
Burton, Nicole Hamilton, Kelly Nero (Sean), Monique Waterford, Hayli Collier, Nephews, Jessie (Jr.) & Jason Tucker, Donald Hamilton Jr., Darren and Ross Collier, Sister-in-Law Cheryl Tucker, and a host of Aunts, Uncles and cousins.
On September 14, 1959, the world was blessed with a shining star of hope and he was named Darvin
Lava Porter.
Darvin was born in San Augustine, Texas to Willie Ed and Jerry Dean Porter. Darvin was the 2nd of three
children in their union.
The Porter Family moved to Oakland, California in the early 1960s. Although he was raised in California,
he spent many summers at his grandparent’s in the countryside of San Augustine, TX. There he formed
many memories with his younger uncles, aunts and dear cousins. They spent countless hours forming
lasting relationships and many cherishable moments together.
He was raised Baptist and attended Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. George J.
Houston. He loved going to church with his parents and siblings as he participated in numerous youth
activities in the youth ministry. Darvin accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was baptized at
an early age.
Darvin’s entire education was within the Oakland Unified Schools District where he also received his
high school diploma.
Darvin met the love of his life, Brenda Dudley Porter, in elementary school. They were married on June
12, 1982 in Oakland, CA by his late uncle, Henry Tanner. And to their union were born two children,
Brianna and Andrianna Porter.
He was a loving friend to so many. He grew up being very active and creative along with his many
friends, doing things such as attending the Oakland Boys and Girls Club on 86th and E 14th Street in
Oakland, doing paper routes, making go carts and assisting the community while assorting recyclables.
He also had a love for sports, especially when it came to supporting his city’s teams such as the Oakland
A’s, Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders and the Golden State Warriors. He would attend many baseball
and football games at the Oakland Coliseum during his childhood. He later applied his leadership,
friendship and compassion for others as a loyal employee at FedEx, where he labored for over 30 years.
On Monday, December 13, 2021, God sought fit to wrap Darvin in his loving arms. He received his wings
into eternal glory. He was met with open arms from his family members who preceded him in death; his
grandparents, Arthur and Rose Ella Porter, Pierce and Zelma Wade, in-laws Renee Hamilton and Jessie
Tucker Sr, and late Uncles and Cousins.
Darvin leaves to forever cherish his memory, his parents Willie and Jerry Porter, his wife Brenda Porter
(39 years of marriage), their daughters Brianna and Andrianna Porter, siblings, Mariette Robinson, Eloise
Porter, John McCoy, God-Sister Staci Collier, Grandchildren Giovanni and Gianna Porter, Nieces Brittany
Burton, Nicole Hamilton, Kelly Nero (Sean), Monique Waterford, Hayli Collier, Nephews, Jessie (Jr.) & Jason Tucker, Donald Hamilton Jr., Darren and Ross Collier, Sister-in-Law Cheryl Tucker, and a host of Aunts, Uncles and cousins.