Canton, Ohio – Pamela Nichols is honoring the memory of her 14-year-old son, Malachi Nichols-Williams, who died after being ejected from a church van on September 6, by donating his organs. The teen suffered a skull fracture and severe brain injury and passed away a few days after the incident.
The tragedy has led to felony charges against 26-year-old Rushon Patterson II, pastor of Alive Now Kidz Church, including child endangerment and vehicular homicide. Despite the severity of the charges, Nichols expressed reservations about the homicide charge while together calling for Patterson to be held accountable for allowing her son to ride on the outside of the van.
According to police reports, Patterson was transporting children home from the church in a van when he permitted Nichols-Williams to ride on the vehicle’s exterior near his home on Alan Page Drive. He was ejected from the van and sustained fatal injuries.
“That was just the wrong choice to even allow him to do that,” Nichols said, questioning how the incident could have occurred.
Patterson is currently out on bond,under house arrest,and wearing an ankle monitor as his case proceeds to a Stark County grand jury.
Despite her grief, Nichols described her son as a caring individual who regularly shared Bibles with others.”I know he’s not gone,so if he can help somebody else to live,I would love that,” she stated,explaining her decision to donate his organs as a continuation of his generous spirit.
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist with funeral expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-a-caring-soul-funeral-support?attribution_id=sl:541d0eb1-434e-4c58-8ad0-5b34d8ae3035&lang=en_US&ts=1758215809&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_c-amp17_ta&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=email
Nichols concluded with a plea to other parents: “Don’t let your kids jump on cars.It’s not safe. It’s just not safe.”
