Brent McLaurin

Brent Sean McLaurin Sr. passed away unexpectedly on Sunday July 7th 2024, at the age of 57.

“Sean” was born in Elmira, New York on February 26th, 1967. He was predeceased by his mother, his father, and his beloved sister Rosemary. He is survived by his brother John “Butch” Wilson, his sister Rebecca Stroman, his children: La’Shahd McLaurin, La’Shiana McLaurin, Brent McLaurin Jr, Shanetha (McLaurin) Schuyler, Isaiah McLaurin, Antonio McLaurin, Dominique McLaurin, Jasmine McLaurin, as well as 20 grandchildren and several loving nieces and nephews.

Sean attended Thomas Edison for most of high school, but graduated from Elmira Free Academy in 1986. Throughout his life, Sean enjoyed a number of jobs: fashion model, fitness trainer, athletic coach, CNA, and worked at Ashland Detention Facility as a counselor for troubled teens, Corning Incorporated, Elmira Police Department, and Schweitzer Aircraft. However, growing up, Sean desired nothing more than to be a Marine. Determined to not let age or circumstances stand in the way of his goals, at the age of 27, Sean accomplished his dream and became a United States Marine, graduating from Parris Island as a Lance Corporal in June 1995.

Sean enjoyed and was exceptionally talented at many things: sports, health & fitness (but could put away a package of Twizzlers like it was his job), boxing, martial arts, percussion, coaching, fishing, cooking, writing, philosophy, trivia (outsmarting Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Jeopardy contestants on a regular basis), watching movies, gardening, and all things artistic. He was one of the funniest, most charismatic, and most intelligent people you’d ever encounter. A true Renaissance man who could seemingly do it all and excel at anything he put his mind to.

Sean also enjoyed riding his bicycle and loved to be in nature, hike, camp, and stare at the stars. He would even sometimes pull the car over to admire a good sunset or waterfall because he believed their beauty was worth a few seconds of time to appreciate. However, nothing came close to the love he had for his children. He valued them far above anything else in life, and enjoyed nothing more than teaching them how to be good, strong, and caring. Loving each one as much as the last and appreciating their various talents and personalities. He gave out a lot of tough love, but it was always because he saw your potential and knew you could be great, no matter who you were. He always wanted to get the best out of you and to show you that you were capable of things that you didn’t think you were capable of. Sean was a tough, strong, and hardened marine who taught his children hard work, determination, respect, and discipline; but also made sure to teach them to be loving, generous, and compassionate towards others. He did his best to be a strong male presence in many children’s lives, even with kids he worked with, deeply desiring the next generation to have it better than he did. He was and will continue to be greatly admired and loved by his children and many others. Though his time here was relatively short, the impact he had on the world is one greater than most ever come close to leaving. He was loved, is loved, and will continue to be loved by so many. He will be greatly and deeply missed, until we’re joyfully reunited again someday.

Services will be held privately for the family.