Caden Wesley Porter, age 16, died of a cardiac event on February 16, 2023. Caden was born on March 9, 2006, in Flowood, Mississippi to Frank and Emily Porter. He was born with a heart defect that resulted in three open heart surgeries. From the very beginning of his life, Caden brought joy to everyone who encountered him.

Caden loved people and was energized by spending time with others. As a junior at Hartfield Academy, he was a part of the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy, Student Leadership, the Golf Team, Medical Science Club, and Science Quiz Team.

From an early age, Caden expressed a love for music and theater. He began piano lessons at the age of five and later added voice lessons. His love of music offered him the opportunity to be a part of the worship team first at Pleasant Grove Methodist Church, Carthage, MS, and most recently for his youth group at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Brandon, MS. Caden loved to perform for a crowd through music. Once he sang the "Star Spangled Banner" for his school's baseball game where he was then surprised by his father's early return from his deployment with the Army National Guard. Caden was also a member of the choir and the chapel worship team at Hartfield Academy.

For the past two summers, Caden participated in NewStage Theatre's Broadway Junior Summer Camp, where he further developed his passion and talent for theater. He performed in plays for both NewStage and Hartfield Academy. His credits include Children of Eden, Shrek, Jr., My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, and Hartfield Revue . Caden loved to experience Broadway musicals and was known for bursting into song at any moment.

Caden's last day on earth was spent doing things he loved which included attending school, worship team practice, piano lessons, Chick-fil-A for dinner, and musical choreography rehearsal for the upcoming school production of Beauty and the Beast when He danced his way right out of this earthly life and into the arms of Jesus in heaven with a healed and healthy body.

Caden is survived by his parents, Frank and Emily Porter; brother, Grayson Porter; grandparents, Rob and Ann Fryant and Reba Porter; uncles Paul (Anna) Fryant and Randy (Tomekia) Porter; and cousins Emma and Robert Fryant and Bishop and Luke Porter. Caden was preceded in death by his grandfather, Frank Porter.

A memorial service will take place on Monday, February 20, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Brandon, MS. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. prior to the memorial service.

Donations may be made in Caden's memory by sending a check made out to Hartfield Academy,1240 Luckney Road, Flowood, MS 39232. Please put "Caden Porter Choir Memorial" in the memo line. Contributions may also be made to the Children's Heart Center at UMMC in Caden's memory.