Chico Elmond “Ramone” Dawson was born on August 22, 1960, in Paterson, New Jersey, to the late Chico Wash Dawson and Pearley Mae Dawson.
He was educated in the Paterson Public School System, attending P.S. #6, Martin Luther King Middle School, and Eastside High School. Chico developed a love for sports early in life. He played as a running back for the Junior State Colts Football Team of Totowa, NJ, and also ran track and played football for Eastside High School, excelling in both sports.
In 1974, Chico welcomed his daughter Kimberly, and in 1976, his son Chico Stephens, with the late Diane Stephens. Determined to be a devoted father and provider, Chico enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1978. He was a proud Marine (“Jarhead – Hoo-Rah”), mastering skills as a sharpshooter, rifleman, and marksman. Simply put—you didn’t want to make him mad standing next to a gun shop! He served four proud years, was honorably discharged in 1982, and became a veteran with honors.
In 1996 Chico relocated to the Carolinas with Shirley McClain, with whom he shared three children and a stepson. The two of them recently married in April 2025 and Greenville South Carolina became his home and final resting place.
Chico worked various jobs and had many hobbies—he was a true jack of all trades. He loved fishing, cooking, and hunting, and had a gift for making people laugh with his endless supply of jokes. He gave everyone a nickname. He was a strong protector, especially when it came to his daughter Kim, and his siblings Mona and Tim. He often said, “I have plenty of boyz, but only one daughter, sister, and brother.”
He shared special relationships with his nieces—Kaity, Fantasia, Pearl’e, D’yamon, and Nia—and his nephews—Tim J.R. (aka “Naked”) and Zarius—as well as his godbrother Jabo, bonus daughter Chrissy Boland, and bonus son Norman Butts.
Chico Elmond “Ramone” Dawson departed this life on Friday, June 27, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, Chico Wash Dawson and Pearley Mae Dawson; maternal grandparents, Richard and Mildred Frierson; paternal grandparents, James and Janie Jean Dawson; paternal aunt and uncle Jake and Rose Urby; paternal uncle Alfred Dawson (Moselle); uncles Richard (June), Arthur Lee (Buster), Robert, Kenneth (Bo), and Jimmy Frierson; aunts Carol (Pune) Jones and Elizabeth Ann Cuffie; and his brother-in-law John Porter.
He leaves to cherish his memory his daughter, Kimberly (Gabriel) Champion of Elmwood Park, NJ; sons, Chico Elmond Stephens of Newark, NJ, Jarrett (Mairielle) Dawson of Greenville, SC, Justin Dawson of Greenville, SC, and Talibdeen (Ibn) Dawson (Tykeyia McKennedy) of Spartanburg, SC; and his stepson, Shariff McClain (Nisha) of Spartanburg, SC. He is also survived by his sister, Ramona Dawson-Porter of Passaic, NJ, and his brother, Timothy Dawson (Cookie) of Paterson, NJ; along with his beloved aunts, Shirley Lusk of Paterson, NJ, Eloise Stewart of North Carolina, Sylveree Frierson of New Jersey, Doris Moseley of California, Gwendolyn Frierson of California, Victoria “Vikki” Frierson of Paterson, NJ, and Shiela Frierson of Elmwood Park, NJ. He will be lovingly remembered by his longtime special friend, Terrye Holman of Paterson, NJ, as well as a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, relatives, and friends.