From tragedy, the love of a mom: ‘Socks for Lil Eddie’ tribute to son

CULPEPER, Va. — Eddie Servance III lived life to experience life.

The Eastern View High School graduate was known for his signature long dreads, tie-dye tees and crazy socks.

"He was my earth, fire, water, wind child—that cool vibe, a beautiful spirit," said his mother—author, minister and advocate K.D. Brown.

Holidays growing up in Culpeper, you never knew what collection of friends would show up. Brown still receives messages from one of her son's friends, all the way in Pakistan, and Eddie is never far from her mind.

Her middle child of three sons was all about helping people, and like his mother, was an advocate for abuse survivors. Brown described Eddie as a free spirit, always giving the "hang 10" sign—it's surfing time, somewhere!

"He was all about everything," she said.

Eddie was a photographer who climbed the highest mountains and did yoga on the prettiest beaches, his mother said. His favorite color was purple and he loved sunflowers.

"Always working to get his next plane, train or bus ticket. He lived his life fully. That's what I’m trying to teach kids and adults—to embrace today, live for today. Be like Lil Eddie."

Lil Eddie is the star of Brown's first children's book, "Socks for Lil Eddie," which she self-published in March. Accompanied by bright and colorful illustrations by Mo Childs, an 18-year-old Virginia artist, it tells the story of a little boy who always wanted new socks, for any special occasion.

It's a bright spot in a tragic outcome for Eddie, who died in a car accident, not far from his family home in Culpeper, on Aug. 14, 2018. He was 27.

His mother has made him her beacon since, establishing ESIII Mentoring & More, a nonprofit foundation, in his name, a few months after his death.

The program, es3mentoringandmore.org, serves anyone who has lost a child with counseling and support, as well as siblings who have lost brothers or sisters. ESIII holds annual events to raise funds and awareness, including a hike every Aug. 14, the date of Eddie's last hike.

The nonprofit also holds a pie baking drive around the holidays, in memory of Eddie's love of baking, using his grandmother's recipes.

"We feed families that are mourning on Thanksgiving and Christmas, adopt seniors because they need people, too. A lot of them lost children; we don't have anyone visiting them, so we do pies. It's one of our biggest fundraisers," Brown said, always going back to Eddie.

"His thing was always making brownies and cookies for Christmas."

ESIII is perhaps most well-known for its yearlong sock drive. The crazier the socks, the better. More than 1,000 children have received socks donated in Eddie's name through the back-to-school Slims bookbag event, held yearly in the Norman community of Culpeper County.

This year, Brown is hosting a "Happy Birthday, Lil Eddie Party" on his birthday, June 18, in Yowell Meadow Park. Her twin sister, Kathy, will be there with the 4U Girls Club. There will also be face painting, a moon bounce, exercises, meditation programs and, of course, socks.

Brown will do a reading of, "Socks for Lil Eddie," and have copies for sale, with proceeds benefitting ESIII Mentoring. She did a reading for students at Eddie's alma mater, Sycamore Park Elementary, and the school declared April 7 as ‘Socks for Lil Eddie Day.’

In the book, Lil Eddie sports the signature older Eddie dreads, wearing a tie-dye shirt and shorts and his feet kicked up with crazy purple and yellow socks. A favorite cousin in real life, Donjai, stars alongside Lil Eddie as he anticipates getting bright socks, striped socks, some with polka dots, socks in red, green, blue and purple, too.

"You can never have enough socks!" Lil Eddie exclaims.

In real life, Servance never cared about big expensive gifts for holidays or birthdays. He just wanted socks.

"Cool, colorful, comfy, silly, goofy socks, Marvel socks," Brown said. "He had an interest in socks for a long time."

A prolific writer who often pens by night, Brown has several children's books in the works, including more in the Lil Eddie series and one featuring each of her five granddaughters as co-authors. Brown enjoys spending time with, and mentoring, the next generation. She loves baking with the grandkids and they are a regular part of her daily writing process.

Brown realizes how amazing and precious time is.

"We take it for granted," she said, recalling the early dark days after losing her son. "I was able to go outside … went to the park, walking around for hours and when I looked up, I saw the sun set, peeked through the trees. I just always remember him saying, ‘You got this, ma,’’’ a phrase Brown said gets her out of bed.

It was bittersweet writing her first children's book, said Brown, a published author of memoirs, inspiration books and prayer journals. Bittersweet because she misses Eddie every day.

Brown stays active with ESIII, which also offers monthly men and women support groups. Eddie helped friends get through their trauma, she said, and is continuing that in his memory.

"He was all about just wanting people to enjoy life and be safe."

The local author met the illustrator for her children's book, Mo Childs, at a family cookout and the two just clicked, Brown said.

"I love her because she is so mature as far as her craft and she is, like me, she wants to be so meticulous," she said.

It's got to be—for Eddie, she continued.

Brown recalled the night of the accident and the last time she saw him. It was a night of revival and they were getting ready to leave for church. Brown ran downstairs to do some laundry.

"I heard him in his room, laughing. We left, went to church, were driving home. He was leaving, and we waved at each other passing," she said.

"I can see his big smile."

It was about 8:30 p.m., and Brown grabbed her phone getting ready to call, but didn't want to distract him.

"I play it all back, he always smiled," she said.

That night it was so quiet, Brown added.

"I slept, heard nothing, and he was so close to home," she said.

It was a blessing she didn't wake that night, Brown said, stating she would have been out in the road screaming for her son.

The author again reflected on Eddie's sense of adventure.

"He was born in a rush, labor started early in the morning. He was born to live."

Pay attention to your kids because life is too short, they grow so fast, Brown said.

"They go through that period they don't want to be with you … it may be 30, 40, 50 they come back where they want to be around you again. It's so short so appreciate when they bother you, the messes. I see people get so mad when a child make a mess trying to do something.

"No, they’re learning, they’re growing, they’re shaping, don't scare them to not want to try."

Eddie would love ‘Socks for Lil Eddie,’ said his mom and seeing the main characters dressed in the outfits he used to wear.

"The whole process is, like awesome, to see it come all together," said Brown. "It was so much fun."

She's working on another book, "Seven Thoughts for Today," under her and Eddie's names, incorporating thoughts, sayings, poems and short stories created by the mother–son team, still present in memories.

"Another tribute to him."