Joshua William Houston

Celebrating the Life and Light of 

Joshua William Houston

Some lives are measured in years. Others are measured in love, impact, and the way they made people feel. Joshua William Houston lived a life that cannot be defined by the 25 years he was given, but by the joy, strength, and love he poured into those years.

Joshua was a loving son, a devoted brother, and a loyal friend whose presence made people feel safe, valued, and seen. Though he was the youngest, he never carried himself that way. In fact, his sisters affectionately called him their big little brother because while he may have been the baby by birth order, his heart, his strength, and his presence felt much bigger. He believed in working hard and showing up fully. Whatever he committed himself to, he gave his full effort and took pride in doing it right. Outside of his accomplishments was the Joshua everyone truly knew and loved.

To his sisters, Jameelah and Mikaelah, he was never just their little brother. He was their protector, their comedian, their sounding board, and one of their greatest sources of pride. Joshua loved his family without limits and without conditions.

A proud graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield Minnesota, Joshua embodied determination, intelligence, and quiet excellence. This was exemplified with a full scholarship awarded to him by the Posse Foundation. He graduated with his BS in Psychology. His character and leadership were recognized not only by the Posse Foundation but early on when he was named Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago, an honor reflecting not just his accomplishments, but his integrity and heart.

He played football from being in the Pop Warner league through his junior year of high school at UIC College Prep High School. Then he took an interest in Rugby which he played from his senior year of high school through college on the intramural teams. Joshua was an avid gamer playing video games all the time; an accomplished swimmer since his early days at the boys & girls club; he had a passion for anime; an appreciation for tattoos as personal storytelling, and he had a natural humor that could change the energy of any room. Joshua was a poet. His writings were sometimes shared in open mics or poetry slams, receiving loud snaps for his thought-provoking prose. Joshua, unlike his sisters, took to cooking and learned a lot from his mother. He loved preparing his favorite meal – breakfast, and one of his favorite foods, steak. Joshua had a wonderful sense of humor. He didn’t just make people laugh. He made people feel comfortable. His kindness was natural. His loyalty was real. His spirit was warm.

Joshua wasn’t just someone you knew. He was someone you were grateful to know.

He loved hard. He stayed loyal. He showed up. And he made sure the people he loved knew they mattered.This was apparent in the work that came full circle at the Boys & Girls Club where he was once a club kid, then became a counselor and mentor. Though 25 years feels far too short, Joshua lived in a way many never achieve in a lifetime. His life reminds us that legacy is not measured by time. It is measured by love. And Joshua loved deeply and was deeply loved. His legacy lives on in the strength of his mother, in the unbreakable bond of his sisters, in the laughter he shared with friends, in the example he set, and the light he brought into every life he touched.

On March 27, 2026, Joshua joined his father, James Lee Houston, his grandfather, William D. Vickers, and his uncle Donise L. Vickers in eternal rest. His love remains deeply rooted here with the family who deeply cherished him. Joshua leaves to honor and carry forward his legacy his loving mother, Michelle Houston, who he loved fiercely and without hesitation; his sisters, Mikaelah Houston and Jameelah Houston, who knew him not just as Joshua, but as Lil Josh, Lil Baby, and their forever big little brother; his grandmother Betty Vickers, whom he lovingly called ‘Grams’; his little big brother, Nathan; and a whole host of family, friends, and loved ones.

Joshua will always be remembered as

A wonderful son; A proud and loving brother

A loyal friend; A hard worker

A man of honor; A bright and unforgettable light

And that light will never go out, forever in our hearts.

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