Luis "Lou" Eduardo Zambrana, Jr., 20, unexpectedly transitioned peacefully to his heavenly home on Monday, September 16, 2019. He is the son of Britta Brown Whitehead and Luis Zambrana, Sr. Born on July 22, 1999 in Portsmouth, Virginia. He attended Woodside High School from 2013-2015 and graduated from Hampton Christian Academy (HCA) in May of 2017.

At HCA, Luis was part of the Praise and Worship team, Boys' Basketball team and the Cross- Country Track team. Luis was instrumental on the praise team where he played the drums. For Basketball, he played forward and received the Growth in Skill Award in 2016. His love for running started at Woodside High School, where he was on the cross-country team and continued to HCA. In 2015, he was named to the All-Metro Conference, but his true love was drama. He had his first appearance in a play where he had the lead role and his passion was born. He received the top honor at HCA for Fine Arts during his senior year.

This love for Drama led him to Norfolk State University (NSU) Theater Company in 2017, where he began pursuing a Bachelors' of Arts in Theatre.   During the summer of 2017, he had the lead role in "Yellowman." This opportunity led him to have roles in Choir Boy, Fences , and Once on this Island . In April 2019, he also received awards for Best Lead Actor in a Musical and Most Improved Actor.

Luis was a member of Diamond Grove Baptist Church in Suffolk, VA and Harvest Church of Hampton (formally known as Gates of Heaven, CLGI). Luis began playing drums for Diamond Grove at the age of 10, then later became the lead organist for the Youth Choir. Luis was known to engage the congregation in worship during the youth services at Diamond Grove through his music ministry. At Gates of Heaven Church, he traveled frequently with the male missionaries enlarging the kingdom of God.

Luis is survived by his mother, Britta Brown Whitehead (Travis), his father, Luis Zambrana, Sr.; his sisters, Nea Zambrana and Layla Zambrana; step sisters, Trinity Whitehead and Marshe Whitehead; maternal grandparents, Charles and Mary Brown, paternal grandmother, Josephine Zambrana and grandmother, Millie Lee; uncles, David Zambrana and Joe Peterson; aunts, Cicely King (Calvin), Cherie Powell (Dawan), Jean Bailey and Melissa Santana (Michael); cousins, Maya Brown, Camille King, Kyle King, Elizabeth Powell, Donovan Rodriguez, Elisa Santana, Montero Santana, Evan Bailey, Dustin Simonette, and Brianni Santana; special family, Zaire Williams, Dawn Martin, Donovan Whitman, Rayven Whitman, Robyn Whitman, Jasmine Henderson, and Marquon Henderson and a host of aunts, uncles cousins, family and friends. Luis is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Fernando Luis Zambrana, Sr.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 21 ^st , 2019 at Union Baptist Missionary Church, 5414 Nansemond Parkway, Suffolk, VA 23434 with Dr. Calvin A. Lillard, Pastor from Diamond Grove Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Holly Lawn Cemetery. A time of visitation will be held Friday, September 20 ^th , 2019 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Parr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3515 Robs Drive, Suffolk, VA 23434. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SunTrust Bank, c/o Britta Brown (Special Account) for Luis E. Zambrana, Jr., Theater Scholarship Fund, 123 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA 23434. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.