On November 18, 2025, God peacefully called our beloved, RuShawn ByKei Wharton to Heavenly rest. He was born on December 11, 1975, in Brooklyn, New York to Fletcher Wharton and Gloria Wharton.

Bykei was educated in Brooklyn, New York School System. He moved to Petersburg, Virginia and later migrated to Denver, Colorado to live.

Bykei confessed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age. He accepted the call in the ministry of Jesus Christ in 2006. Through his journey of life, he attended churches in Denver, Colorado.

Bykei loved his family and the Word of God. He will be lovingly remembered by his parents, Fletcher Wharton of Eastern Shore, Virginia and Gloria Wharton of Petersburg, Virginia; sister, Felicia Perry; godmother, Carroll Bagwell; uncles, Charles "Bobby" Wharton, Wayne Wharton, Larry Wharton, Ronald Wharton and Seth Myrick; great uncle, Franklin Poarch (Dorothy); aunts, Bernice Wharton, Minister Jacqueline Harper (Charles), Sherry Dabney and Glenda Myrick; great aunts, Ethel Poarch, Daisy Poarch, Ellen Poarch, Blanche Poarch, Kathrine Poarch, Anne Poarch of Virginia, and Ann Poarch of New Jersey.

Bykei will be truly missed by a host of cousins who are too numerous to name. However, the cousins chattered almost every week on Facebook. He would chat and ask about everybody. His devoted cousins, Theba Bellamy, Tasha Shaw, Amber Wilson, Keyana Myrick, Ronique Wallace, Ashari Shaw, Shatalya  Brown, Shalaven Shaw Harris, Ronnie Shaw (Kia), Jamar Shaw, Jabir Shaw (Shahidah), Aalimah Shaw, Cajuan Myrick, Brandon Ridley, Thalia Robinson, Martina Martin (Willie), Dorothy Smith, Lara Smith, Tyrone Parham, Tyrone Boone (Nana), Keith Ruffin, Marcus Robinson, Kermaiah Shaw, Xohidia Shaw, Kali'Rose Harris, Majesty Hawkins, Niyomi Hawkins, Uniaue McLaughlin, Mekena Myrick, Alex Wilson, Mark Wilson, Angela Poarch, Lisa Poarch, Tracie Poarch, Feba Poarch, Shameka Spurlock and Shydaren Moore; godmother, Carole Bagwell; and host of other cousins and friends.

Services will be held 1:00 P.M., Saturday, December 6, 2025, in the Chapel of J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, Minister Jacqueline Harper, eulogist and Minister  Cynthia Todd, officiating.

J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, watch the funeral services live online at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.