Joshua James Messenger, 23

PLAINFIELD, Mass. —  

Joshua was born in Queens, New York City, and was later adopted by the Messenger family. He grew up in Plainfield and attended Ashfield Preschool and Mohawk Middle and High Schools. He overcame speech and physical disabilities with the help of supportive professionals and family. His first language was American Sign Language. He played baseball in town and on the JV baseball team at Mohawk. He was involved in band and drama departments. Josh was a very talented musician, played piano first, and later taught himself guitar, saxophone and played drums. He loved to be with people and to entertain with music and dancing. He was a volunteer firefighter for approximately two years in Plainfield.

Josh moved to NYC at the age of 18 to explore his roots and was able to meet his birth parents along with other siblings such as himself often living with other families. While there he met Sylvia Cuebas and he fell in love. He passed away from an accidental death caused by the extremely powerful and illicit drug fentanyl and a poor decision one evening after drinking. A combination of gasoline and fire. This drug is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths every year.

He is survived by his father Rick Messenger, sister ErinRose Messenger and other local siblings, David, Kim and Grandmother Eva Martinez. There are other relatives in NY and MA.

The memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 11th at 1:00 P.M. at the West Cummington Congregational Church, 27 W Main St, Cummington, MA 01026. Since it is a service for Josh, it will include music, tears and laughter. We hope that it will include you.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ashfield Preschool, 103 Baptist Corner Road, P.O. Box 19, Ashfield, MA 01330, for a great start for the next generation.