Darnell S. Balaam

Darnell Shelby Balaam aka “Mini” was born July 21, 1967 to Jean

Travis-Cook and Robert Balaam in New Brunswick, NJ. He gained

his wings on June 25, 2023 at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. He at-

tended New Brunswick High School and obtained a GED.

Darnell was a lifelong resident of New Brunswick before moving to

Metuchen in 2013. He worked for Apollo Moving Company for many

years before working at Metuchen Taxi. He had a passion for the Lord

and was an armor-bearer for many years at New Hope Baptist Church

in Metuchen, NJ. Darnell loved to watch football, especially his favorite

team, The Giants. He loved to be around family, especially his sister,

Lynette (Net) they had a special bond. Mini loved to crack jokes, he was

a jokester and loved to make everyone laugh. He also loved to cook

and was famous for his pepper steak and rice.

He was preceded by his father, Robert Balaam and oldest sister, Pamela

Travis. He leaves to cherish his memory: his mother Jean Travis-Cook

(New Brunswick, NJ); His Children, Jasmine Balaam (North Bruns-

wick, NJ) and Darnell Balaam (Baltimore, Maryland); His only brother

Robert Travis (New Brunswick, NJ), His Sisters; Lynette Travis (Som-

erset, NJ), Melinda Gardner (East Brunswick, NJ), Sharon Dudley

(North Carolina), Tawanda Dudley (North Carolina), His stepsisters,

Margaret Cook-Brown (Virginia), Donna Cook-Watson (North Bruns-

wick, NJ), Marlon Cook-Coleman (Florida), Debbie Cook-Jackson

(Texas), His nieces Shatoya Travis (Highland Park, NJ), Tyesha Bates

(Plainsboro, NJ) and Shanelle Travis (Somerset, NJ), Ariana Dudley

(North Carolina), His nephews Ronald Travis (New Brunswick, NJ)

and Gregory Bates (New Brunswick, NJ), Brandon Ray (North Caro-

lina), Demerius Wise (North Carolina), Dequon Dudley (North Caro-

lina), Hezekiah Dudley (North Carolina), great nieces Dasani, Ta’Hara,

and Si’Nai, great nephew Kartaris, and special cousins Jeffrey Balaam

(North Carolina) and Monique Balaam (Plainsboro,NJ).

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