February 17, 2022, 16, Goldsboro –

Ricardo Montez McLeod, II, lovingly referred to as “Juice” by many loved ones, was given his heavenly wings on the night of February 17, 2022.

Ricardo aka Juice blessed the world with his arrival on June 10, 2005 as the first-born son of Ricardo Montez McLeod and Joyce Lashonda Payton of Gulfport, MS.

In 2010 he, his mother, and brother moved to North Carolina and made it home.

Ricardo had a heart of gold like his mother and mad swag like his dad! And what an exceptional young man he had grown to be. He was a strong leader and freshman at Goldsboro High School and a hard dedicated worker at Pizza Inn.

Ricardo excelled in many things but those that knew and loved him knew that his passion was his family, his music, and all aspects of it. He would spend hours and hours each day writing, singing, dancing, and recording to perfect his art. He was a very loving soul, very helpful, compassionate and a great protector of those he loved.

Ricardo was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandmother, Lula Magee; maternal grandmother, Gloria Payton; paternal aunt, Natasha R. McLeod; maternal uncle, Clarence Payton; and two brothers, TyJuan Johnson and Juan Harvey, Jr.

He is survived by his paternal grandparents, Linda McLeod and Johnnie (Dorothy) McLeod; maternal grandfather, Christopher Smith; loving aunt, Chanel (Manuel) Atchison; step-mother, Samantha Johnson; maternal great-grandparents, John (Eva) Riley; four sisters, Aaliyah Payton, Jayla Harvey, Jurni Johnson-McLeod, Jhene’ Johnson-McLeod; three brothers, Christopher McLeod, Samuel Barnes, and Isaiah Johnson; four aunts, Debbie Alexander, Konya (Detrick) Johnson, Lisa Rose, and Gwendolyn Payton; three uncles, Johnnie “Jody” (Michelle) McLeod III, Tony Payton, and Chris Payton; his loving “T.T./Big Cuz” Nastassja Scales; loving “Uncle/Big Cuz” Najja McLeod; loving “Big Cuz” Ja’Brille Thompson; and a host of loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

We know that Juice was met at the pearly gates by his loved ones that made it there before him and he will forever be greatly, dearly, and sincerely loved and missed by all the loved ones that survive him.

A service to celebrate Ricardo’s life will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2022 in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home at 1:00 P.M. The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until 12:45 P.M. at Seymour Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at Wayne Memorial Park.

On Wednesday, February 23, Ricardo will lie in state at Seymour Funeral Home from 2:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M.

Services have been entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.seymourfuneralhome.com