Kylee Earlmize Robinson, affectionately known as “Ling,” was born on July 21, 2005, to his loving mother, Danielle Stevens, and his father, Earl Robinson. On October 29, 2023, our hearts were broken when Kylee was taken from us far too soon.

To know Kylee was to love him.

He was bright, curious, and always eager to learn something new. He had a creative spirit that could not be contained and a personality that was larger than life. Kylee was kind, gentle, funny, and loyal to those he loved. If you were his friend, you had a friend for life.

His friends gave him the nickname “Ling,” and he wore it proudly. He would come home and tell his mother, “Mom, my friends gave me a nickname. They call me Ling,” and then laugh as he repeated it over and over again. It became a part of who he was and a name that will forever be spoken with love.

Kylee loved life and the simple things that brought people together. He enjoyed playing basketball, drawing, fishing, dancing, and making music. He was talented and fearless when it came to expressing himself. Even if his music was not everyone’s first choice, it was his passion, and he embraced it with his whole heart.

One thing everyone knew about Kylee was his love for seafood. He especially loved crabs, and there was hardly a birthday, celebration, or ordinary day that could not turn into a crab day at Trap Pond. Those moments of laughter and togetherness are now memories his family will cherish forever.

As his mother, I can honestly say that life with Kylee was not always easy, but I believe that is what made our bond so extraordinary. We were so much alike. We challenged each other, learned from each other, and loved each other deeply. Every lesson, every conversation, every smile, and even every difficult moment became part of a relationship that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

His laugh is something I can still hear as if he were standing beside me. His spirit remains alive in the hearts of all who knew him, and everything about him will never be forgotten.

Kylee attended Laurel High School, where he was loved by his teachers, coaches, and staff. One person who held a special place in his heart was Coach Dave. Kylee would excitedly tell his mother that Coach Dave said he could ride the bus with the team to their games, and he looked up to him with great admiration. Our family will forever be grateful for the encouragement, kindness, and positive influence that Coach Dave and the staff at Laurel High School had on his life.

Kylee was also blessed with an incredible mentor, Marcus Prattis affectionately known to him as “Mr. Marcus.” Even after moving from Seaford to Laurel, Kylee continued to stay connected with him. Their bond was one of trust, guidance, and friendship, and our family will always appreciate the role Mr. Marcus played in helping shape the young man Kylee was becoming.

More than anything, Kylee loved his family. The memories he created with his brothers, sisters, friends, and extended family are treasures that will never fade. His love continues to live within all of us, and he will forever be missed beyond words.

To his mother, he will always be her favorite guy and her firstborn son.

Our family would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to the funeral home for the extraordinary love, care, and compassion they showed during one of the darkest times of our lives. They cared not only for Kylee but for our entire family with dignity and grace.

They welcomed the young people who came to say goodbye and allowed them to grieve in a way that honored who Kylee truly was. As his favorite songs played, they gave his friends the space to laugh, cry, remember, and celebrate him while they lovingly prepared him for his final rest. They saw our son as a person whose life mattered, and their kindness is something our family will carry forever.

We would also like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Laurel High School for the incredible love and support they extended to our family. By opening their doors and allowing us to celebrate Kylee’s life within the walls of the school that cared so deeply for him, they gave us a place of comfort and community. The compassion shown by the administration, teachers, staff, students, and everyone who stood beside us during that time will never be forgotten.

Although Kylee’s life was cut short, his legacy will continue through the love he gave and through the work that will be done in his name. His mother has chosen to carry that love forward by supporting other families affected by violence and by making sure that Kylee’s name continues to inspire hope, compassion, and change.

As we remember Kylee, we also remember the countless young lives being taken by gun violence. Behind every headline is a child who was deeply loved, a family forever changed, and a future that should have been.

If there is one thing our family hopes people will take away from Kylee’s story, it is this: love your children loudly, hold them close, forgive often, and never assume there will be another tomorrow.

No parent should have to stand in a funeral home and struggle to write an obituary because the pain is too heavy to carry. No family should have to learn how to survive the silence left behind, and no child should become another statistic when they were someone’s entire world.

Kylee’s life mattered.

His smile mattered.

His laughter mattered.

His dreams mattered.

His story does not end here. It lives on through every memory shared, every act of kindness, every young person who chooses hope over violence, and every family that finds the strength to keep going.

May we love our children fiercely while we have them and work together so that no other parent has to bury a child taken by violence.

Forever our Ling.

Forever my firstborn son.

Forever Loved

He will be missed by his two dogs Deuce and Nahla. 

He is survived by his mother and step-father, Danielle Nicole Stevens and Charles Hammond; father, Earl Robinson; brothers, Kaemon Stevens, Shyheim Upshur, Keishawn Copes; sisters, Daeja Drayton, Donequa Upshur, and Autumn Stevens; grandmother, Ernestine Robinson; aunts, Sandy Rash, and Belinda Smith; uncles, Brendon Rash, Anthony Smith, Travis Smith, and Thomas Neal, Jr.; cousins, Sallie Rash, Samuel Rash, Luna Neal, Tequilla Robinson, Treasure Robinson, Tyson Robinson, and Unique Smith; his girlfriend, Syaira Selby; and many cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Delores Malone, Layton Stevens, and Earl Kellam.

 A visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at Laurel High School from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00. Followed by a funeral service which begins at 12:00. Interment will follow the service in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Laurel. 

Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Home in Delmar. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com.