DeAntuan Travelle Fields: He loved going to church and playing music

This story is part of an ongoing Miami Herald series chronicling the lives of South Florida COVID-19 victims.

DeAntuan Travelle Fields brought laughs and music to his family throughout his 35 years.

He was born in Fort Lauderdale on June 20, 1984, to Genice and Clarence Fields. He died on April 22 due to complications with chronic kidney disease and COVID-19.

“He tried to help anyone he could,” said his mother, Genice Fields. “He was a family guy. He loved being around the family.”

Fields was raised in Pompano Beach and had three siblings: Chianti, Richard and Terrence.

He was known for his sense of humor and love for his family and friends. His sister Chianti will particularly remember his laugh and the relationship they had.

“We talked about everything,” she said. “He pretty much had my back. If I needed something he would do it or go out of his way to make sure I had it, and I would do the same.”

Fields worked for Broward County Public Schools as a custodian for about five years. In 2012, he married Krystal Copeland and during their eight-year marriage, they had three children: Deauna, DeAntuan, and Antuan Fields.

He loved going to church and playing music. He joined Newborn Holiness Church in his childhood and served there until he died.

His interest in music started during his childhood at church. He took drum lessons as a kid and learned to play the guitar by ear.

“His heart was basically music,” said Genice. “He was rehearsing almost every night with a group.”

Fields played the drums, bass and lead guitar for different gospel groups and churches—including the Traveling QCs, the Southernaires and Mount Nebo Baptist Church.

He shared his passion with everyone, said Chianti. His eldest daughter, Deauna, who is six years old, would often sing as he played the guitar.

Fields had suffered from juvenile diabetes since he was 8 years old. His condition worsened as he got older — to the point where one of his kidneys failed and he became a dialysis patient.

He was on the waiting list for a kidney donation. In the meantime, he underwent treatment several times a week, which caused him to stop working for the last six years of his life.

But this didn’t stop him, said Chianti. He woke up around 5 a.m. three times a week to arrive early at the medical center for his treatment. Then he returned home around noon, rested, and went out at night to practice his music.

He suffered a cardiac arrest on April 22. Though emergency workers scooped him up and headed for North Broward Medical Center, he died on his way there. He had tested positive for COVID-19 early in the month but was asymptomatic.

His family organized a balloon release at a Forest Lawn cemetery on June 20 to commemorate his birthday. He’ll be fondly remembered by his parents, siblings, children, relatives and friends.

“If you could just hear him laugh,” said Chianti. “He loved to laugh and make jokes—make you laugh. And music. I’m going to really miss him and his music.”

Alejandra Marquez Janse, a Florida International University journalism student, wrote this story for the Miami Herald.

This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 12:48 PM.