Mr. Demetrias "Keondre" Prince

Demetrias “Keondre” Prince was born February 23, 1996. Our family knew him as “Dre,” but most others referred to him as “E-Way. ”E-Way stood for "Expressway, " and in his case, "Expressway Dre, "because he was quick to hit the road and was willing to find the fastest and easiest way to achieve a goal, even if it meant taking calculated risks and choosing unconventional paths. Dre enjoyed playing football as a kid. We nicknamed him "Slow Mo" because his long, gangly legs made it seem like he was running in slow motion. As he grew older, he discovered his next passion—basketball. He became infatuated with the sport, just like Kobe Bryant. However, if Dre had written a love letter to basketball, it would have said his mind could handle the grind, but his heart literally couldn't take the pounding, so due to health concerns, the doctor and his mom ultimately made him say goodbye. For Dre, losing basketball felt like losing a limb. The psychological pain was profound, as his hopes of playing in college and dreams of making it to the NBA vanished in an instant—like the snap of a finger. In Dre's case, it was the stroke of a doctor's pen that ended a dream. It's hard to imagine the emotional distress he experienced from losing basketball, but life often has a way of bringing us new loves the longer we live. So, Dre's passion for basketball changed to a deep appreciation for Mississippi and all its ways. More than just a state, Mississippi felt like the very essence of who Dre was as a person. His soul was more entwined with it than it ever was with Georgia, his place of birth. He loved trail rides, which provided him with the adventure and exploration that "E-way" needed, while offering "Dre" the peaceful surroundings, a simple life, and the freedom he desired. At times, Dre could be extremely quiet and elusive, often making others wonder what he was thinking. At other times, he would be loud and gregarious, dreaming out loud of owning a gun store, buying expensive cars, and wearing designer clothes and shoes. But aren't we all this way, many-sided, loving one thing today and another tomorrow? Dre had a few enduring loves, one of which was the color blue. Blue is a fascinating color with many shades, each representing different meanings. The lighter shades of blue are often associated with serenity, calmness, and peace, while the darker shades convey a sense of coolness and distance. Dre's other love was a song, "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here," by Deborah Cox, which he played and sang loudly and on repeat when he was younger. Who would have thought? 😊 He took great pleasure in enjoying delicious foods like fried chicken, fried fish, barbecue, jerk chicken, oxtails, and a golden, cheesy delight known as mac and cheese. Whether it came from a blue box during his childhood or was a homemade family recipe as he grew older, Dre always wanted his own personal pan of mac and cheese to savor. He never shared it with anyone, especially his mom, with whom he often argued to keep her away from it. Mac and cheese perfectly capture the complex nature of Keondre. His family loved "Dre" like a humble box of Kraft, appreciating his nostalgic perfection. However, as life goes on, everything and everyone changes, and his friends only came to know him through their experiences with "E-Way." There it is again, the duality of “Keondre.” He lived life as a double-entendre, always open to interpretation. “Dre” and “E-Way,” equal “Keondre,” warm and cool like the color blue. Different aspects, same person. Keondre is survived by his mother, Charlotte Prince-Thomas; his father, James “Wayne” Thomas; his older brother, Kethon Prince; his grandmother, Betty Thomas; his uncles, Marcus Williams (Dee) and Terrell Thomas; his aunts, Latarsha Horne, Trinity Horne, and Akesha Thomas; his nieces, Mackenzie Prince and Taylor Conley-Carnes; his nephew, Kaison Prince; his close cousins, Zyreion and Kydrin Bush; and a special love, Tykedra Henley. He was also dearly loved by his grandmother, Josephine Horne; and grandfather, Arthur Thomas, who preceded him in death; along with many other grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends, who were like family to him. And last but certainly not least, his fur baby Drekko, who he shared with MaDukes. “Dre was our free-spirited warrior. We wanted him here, but God needed more soldiers and called him home!” We love you and miss you tremendously, Keondre!

Mr. Demetrias "Keondre" Prince

February 23, 1996 - September 20, 2025

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Mr. Demetrias "Keondre" Prince

February 23, 1996 - September 20, 2025

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support