David "Mister Danger Balthlazaar Madrox" Xiong, age 38, of Apex, NC, escaped the Matrix on Monday, August 28, 2023, leaving behind several guitars including his beloved Josephine, his elaborate hoo-kar setup, his quaint and cozy cottage, his collection of graphic tees, and enough movies to have opened his very own BlockBuster.

David is survived by his mother Jao Thao Xiong, a culinary maestro in his eyes. Nothing brought David home faster than his mom calling to tell him she was cooking a big dinner.

He is also survived by sisters Yeng Xiong and her husband Lucky Vang, Julie Xiong and her husband Billy Vang, and Cindy Xiong Lor and her husband Jer Lor, as well as his brothers Jim Xiong and his wife Amanda Her, Peter Xiong, and Benny Xiong and his wife Jesse Davis Xiong.

He is also survived by nieces Vivian Chang, London Vang, Emily Vang, and Remedy Xiong, as well as nephews Simon Chang, Nathan Lor, Kody Xiong, Cloud Vang, and Ghengis Xiong.

He is preceded in death by his father, Richard Ying Xiong, who we're sure is already happily lecturing him while also telling him how proud he is.

David graduated from North Stanly High School in New London, NC, where he made lifelong friends, lasting memories, and set the bar so high on what it meant to be a good student that his younger siblings struggled to impress his former teachers.

He then relocated to Raleigh, NC to attend North Carolina State University where he quickly fell in love with the city and, much like his high school days, fostered enduring friendships that remained dear to him. After overcoming the pressures many first-generation Asian kids go through in college, David found the courage to pursue his true passion and would go on to graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in Creative Writing.

His passion for writing naturally evolved into a musical journey where he found his place as a valued member of the Clay Pigeons band. He made notable contributions with three songs, 'Marianne,' 'My Black Bess,' and 'The Day We Drove to the Rodeo,' all of which featured on the album. David not only found joy in performing but also invested numerous late-night hours crafting songs infused with poetry, romance, and profound artistic genius. His passion for writing music was fueled by the cathartic nature of the creative process, helping him unravel life's complexities. And yes, to the relief of his parents, his writing also provided him a successful career as a tech writer at Microsoft.

David absolutely loved to hang out with his friends, be goofy with his nieces and nephews, play video games with his cousins, smoke his infinite supply of hookah, and drive around listening to his latest playlist as the sun set. He also loved to watch movies and tv shows and would often send you recommendations, sometimes more than once (or twice.. or ten times..) because he would be so excited to discuss it with you. To guarantee you watched something he recommended, David would purchase streaming services and then immediately send you his login information. It was the most financially silly thing, but he was generous like that.

He also loved visiting his family and would always arrive with a small cooler to pack home leftovers because he held his family’s cooking in the highest regard. One time he packed home several gallon bags of Mom’s fried rice and ate it for months. He was always the biggest fan of her cooking.

David had the ability to see the best in everyone and would relentlessly remind you how wonderful you were. He always protected those around him and lifted them up to their highest potential. No matter what you were going through or who you were going against, he was always there for you.

David was a loving, funny, and unique soul. He always had the courage to be himself, no matter how much it bothered anyone else that he was different. He valued authenticity and honesty and didn’t give a damn about superficial relationships. So if you had the honor of being a friend of David, know that you meant more to him than you will ever know.

And if you were disliked (you know who you are) you missed out, baby.

David was truly one of a kind and there will never be another like him.