Article By J.T. Washington // EEW Magazine // Death

On Tuesday, Sep. 10, family and friends laid to rest GRAMMY® Award-winning producer, LaShawn “Big Shiz” Daniels, who died in a tragic car accident Tuesday, Sep. 3.

Famed composer, Kirk Franklin, who was among those in attendance at the invitation-only, private funeral, had a difficult time processing the loss—something he took to social media to work through.

“It’s been a week of losing and even finding. A lot of people lost a great friend this week,” said the “Love Theory” songwriter in an Instagram video. “Then I have another friend who gave his life to Christ and found new life. Life can be filled with so many ups and downs,” he said.

EEW Magazine Online’s sources revealed that Daniels’ pastor, Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC, eulogized the Christian musical talent and comforted the hearts of family members. Gospel artists Israel Houghton, Tasha Cobbs, Travis Greene and more paid tribute through songs and words of expression in a room filled with equal parts love and grief.

Kirk Franklin grapples with the loss of his friend, LaShawn “Big Shiz” Daniels (Credit: Getty)

Though the family requested privacy and no media coverage was allowed, close friends have, in their own ways, honored Daniels’ memory publicly. Franklin chose to share spiritual words of comfort with his followers, telling them to “keep an eternal perspective of life, because in the words of Dr. Tony Evans, ‘if what you see is all you see, then you do not see all there is to be seen.’”

Evans, 70, leader of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, TX, is the GRAMMY® Award-winning Fo Yo Soul recording artist’s pastor and mentor.

Before Daniels’ passing, the 41-year-old’s storied career led him to write songs for Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Destiny’s Child, Lady Gaga, Brandy and more. He left behind his wife, April Daniels, and children.

Photo courtesy of LaShawn and April Daniels

The couple wed in June 2001 and often uploaded fun-filled videos on their “April and LaShawn” YouTube channel, sharing their lives, laughs and perspectives on love and marriage.

In a string of tweets, Franklin, 49, aired out his feelings about spending time with Daniels’ family and friends at the home-going service, referring to them as “the beautiful people that have experienced tragic loss.”

He wrote, “No matter how life unfolds itself, the conversation about death will always leave our words incomplete and full of angst. We stammer and stumble through knowing how to comfort, afraid the words we choose will do more harm, but our hearts still force us to hold, embrace, weep and feel the human touch that allows us to mourn with those who mourn, and grapple with our own mortality.”

He ended his somber reflections by asking two questions, “Can God be trusted in times like this? Will His promises ring true in the end?”

He then added, “We fight to believe that our last breath here, will be our first eternal one there.”