Waylon Young Bird

Photograph of Waylon, obtained from his Facebook page.

Waylon Young Bird, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, frequently reached out to his community to update them on his life and his thoughts. He expressed love and gratitude for his network, such as when he posted on his Facebook page: “I'm just thankful 4another day here in Native American Land, I love you family and friends, I do appreciate all you do 4me,God Please Bless all who follow your path!” He adored country music, and he was named by his father after the country singer Waylon Jennings. 

On Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Waylon died while incarcerated at MCFP Springfield, a federal medical prison in Missouri, one week after contracting the coronavirus. He was only 52 years old.

As his body was lowered into the ground, a prayer song was sung by three singers from a nearby reservation. About 100 family members said goodbye to Waylon at his graveside service.

Waylon was aware of the dangers that coronavirus posed to him as someone with severe kidney disease and other underlying conditions. He wrote 17 letters to U.S. District Judge Roberto Lange pleading to serve his sentence in home confinement, describing his desire to see his sister and four kids who needed him. “I am afraid I may be infected by the time you receive this letter and would not be able to contact my family by then,” he wrote. Waylon expressed his wish to attend the funeral of his “aunty mom” Joann Young Bird and shared his fears as dozens of people residing in his unit tested positive for the virus. “The unit I’m in is a 24 hour care unit, a lot of us are worried,” he wrote. “We feel like sitting ducks, waiting for the virus to come and infect us.”

“I just keep praying for my safety and when sentenced, this wasn’t part of it.” 

Waylon was denied compassionate release by Judge Lange. “I find it hard to comprehend,” Casina Brewer, one of his daughters, told NBC News. “I just feel like he was ignored.”

Photograph of Waylon with his mother, daughters, and grandchildren, obtained from his Facebook page.

Photograph of Waylon holding his grandson, obtained from his Facebook page.

Waylon had a generous spirit. When his sister died, he honored her memory by hosting a large dinner attended by her loved ones. His Aunt, Jo Lynn Little Wounded, told NBC News, “He bought blankets, sweaters, socks, dreamcatchers — anything you could think of,” and he passed them out to people in his community who were experiencing homelessness. “It was something I’ll never forget,” she said.

Waylon’s life was stolen, and he will be missed. We remember Waylon and mourn alongside his family and friends.

Photograph of Waylon, obtained from his Facebook page.

This memorial was written by MOL team member Kira Grossfield with information from reporting by Rich Schapiro of NBC News, from Waylon Young Bird’s Facebook page, from a tweet by Allison Guernsey, from a letter posted by fd.org, and from a press release by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.