A BURST OF SUNSHINE
FEBRUARY 1, 1994
THIS IS MY STORY... I remember the day I opened my eyes and looked around to see my beautiful, caring, and loving parents – Anthony and Elaine Stewart – and my new big brother, Darren. From that day on, I’ve always been passionate in everything I do and will always go above and beyond to be the best that I can be. Growing up Jamaican is no party, we got used to getting licks… and no, this is not a game they are playing — they call it “love.” School has always been a priority for me. I started at a little Christian school, then moved on to a bigger Christian school…hmmmm; I wonder what my parents were trying to tell me. I was able to graduate from high school two years early, and even though I missed prom and all those other major high school events, it was totally worth it. College was challenging for me both academically and personally. Yes, I was knocked down, but I got up stronger: flaws and all. When I grow up, I want to be a surgeon or a chef, honestly whichever comes first. Hard work is something that is programmed in my DNA. If I’m not working, I’m studying, and if I’m not studying, then I’m working… that’s why you will never catch me without my Starbucks in hand. Like, all the time. I CAN NOT function without IT. Also, I apologize if you tried to reach out to me and got hit with the automatic “Do Not Respond” message. Trying to pass the MCAT and get into medical school is the number one goal, fam. I’ve been working for as long as I can remember. I sold phones at AT&T, was a waitress, was a hostess, and a time or two even helped the chefs. But let me tell you, working at Memorial Hospital as a Scribe in the emergency room has been one of the greatest joys of my life. The doctors and staff are amazing. Of course, I had my personal favorites and you for sure know who you are.
I know you beloved friends and family describe me as “boujee on a budget.” I hear y’all constantly calling me out when I buy things with my money that I work for, but that’s fine. I can walk right into Express and Macy’s and buy bags worth of clothes without breaking a sweat. And don’t even get me started on Ulta. But wait, speaking of sales, did you guys get your $8.95 candles from Bath & Body Works? I made sure that I got my favorite scents, Champagne Toast and Frosted Cranberry... 3 wicks. Got them early too cuz I used the app that had early access for residents of Indian Trail of all places, but you gotta do what you gotta do. It’s not a game. You’ll never catch me leaving the house without my hair and makeup in check. Edges will be laid FLAT, leave out will be blended, eyebrows on point, lashes poppin’, and highlight blended and blinding. I will always make sure I smell fresh with my Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue (it’s the best), and I always make sure my makeup stays put with my Fenty products. Still on the hunt for the best primer, so when you find one let me know.
One of my biggest pet peeves is bad customer service. Nothing bothers me more than when I am using my money to pay for your service and then you’re being rude to me or to anyone else. I will even go out of my way and make a whole Instagram post dedicated to you. One fourth of July weekend in 2010, my aunt gave me the greatest gift that I have ever received. My child, my baby, my world, my dog Mia, and I would do anything for her. Everyone knows how extra I am when it comes to my baby. If she is sleeping, everyone else needs to be quiet. I will fill up her water bowl with water and ice cubes and if I could, I would even add a lemon on the side… you know, just because. • • • • • • • •
I’ve explored and sweated out my roots in Jamaica. I’ve shopped until I dropped in New York City and even took in a Broadway Musical. I saw Queen Bey in Georgia and Miami. I went sky diving on the California coast and saw my Queen again in LA. I had a second home with my family in North Carolina and Texas. I’ve been tubing and canoeing in the mountains of North Carolina. I’ve camped under the stars in Canada and North Carolina. I’ve driven snow mobiles in Colorado, a four-wheeler in the Arizona desert, and hiked too many mountains and waterfalls to name. • I’ve visited historical sites in Washington D.C and Atlanta. • I’ve been a passenger on a double-decker bus in London, England. I have been blessed with the world’s best parents, the best brother, the best sister, the best grandparents, the best aunts, the best uncles, the best cousins, the best extended family, and the best friends that an adrenaline junkie, food-loving, Beyonce-crazed, people-loving, girl like me could ask for. I’ve travelled to these amazing places and seen some beautiful things… and after all of that, not gonna lie, I’m happy to say… I’ve lived.
A LETTER TO OUR DAUGHTER
Sometimes we didn’t make our feelings clear, We assumed that you knew the deep love we felt for you. You were more than enough. You were precious, unique, and worth being adored, cherished and treasured. You were one of the greatest things that ever happened to us. There was nothing we’d rather see than your smile and nothing we’d rather hear than your laughter. You will always be our child…more than just a step... Forever in our heart, where our love for you is kept. We’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared with a big smile, and the huge love we’ve always had for you. We just want to say we love you, our darling daughter. Although your life’s journey has bid us to be apart… We are with you, you are with us, always in our hearts.
OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL Brianne Ashley Stewart, our sister, was an angel in the flesh. A young woman with the purest heart, and a spirit that could illuminate the darkest room. Knowing Brianne meant knowing love, patience, happiness, empathy, kindness, and most importantly it meant knowing God. In all of our Creator’s blessings and miracles, it has been one of the greatest joys to have met his spirit through Brianne. A soul that was filled with so much life, which proves true as her impressions and teachings are carried by countless people to this very day. In the midst of these events let us blanket our tears with smiles and shield sad thoughts with the precious memories we are fortunate to have of our angel. As her siblings Janique and Darren used to say, although she was the youngest in age she was most certainly the most mature in every sense of the word. We pray our Lord and Savior equips us with the tools needed to become even half the person she was. With those gifts we promise to let our love manifest throughout the world in hopes to make it a better place, just as Brianne wanted. May our Guardian Angel live on forever through our actions, mind, and spirit. We love you sis, Janique and Darren!!!
SKYDIVING-THE JOURNEY
Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved being in the sky, as I was blessed enough to spend a lot of time flying and traveling. Skydiving has always been a dream of mine, and one of the many goals I knew I was going to accomplish once I became “skinny,” if that were to ever happen. As I got older, I got heavier and the heavier I got the farther I went from being up in the sky. I’ve always dreamt of a peaceful atmosphere in the sky, away from the ground level filled with so much judgment, and hate, and not enough atonement. I was never a star athlete, other than a few seasons playing basketball on a team that allowed anyone to join. School was my outlet when I was bullied throughout middle and high school for being “big AF!” As I dove deeper into the books, I dived deeper into a bag of chips - I was excelling in school and excelling (in the wrong direction) on that scale.
Then I woke up one day and decided I wanted to live. Live as long as possible, cure people from incurable diseases, with God as my guide and the Lord as my witness. So I lost more than 100 pounds with a lot of help, and decided to go sky diving. It was more than just jumping from 13,000 feet over Oceanside, California, with the best smog-filled views of the Pacific Ocean. It was about seeing a dream come into fruition, and feeling AS LIGHT AS A FEATHER, since I was WAY under the 250lb mark for the first time in a long time. I felt my gums being blow back to my ears, and the wind getting knocked out of me. It was just incredible. Special thanks to my fearless cousin who’s been living her best live for HERSELF, for the past few years. Forever and always my inspiration - thanks for allowing me to tag along, Bey.
#BeySquared
Monday, December 17, 2018
Viewing 10:00 a.m. Service 11:00 a.m.
Cooper City Church of God
9191 Stirling Rd Cooper City, FL 33328
Officiating Ministers
Bishop Duane Swilley Pastor Clarence Brownlee Pastor Norman Hemming
CELEBRATION SERVICE
Procession by the family Ave Maria
Opening Remarks Bishop Duane Swilley Prayer Pastor Norman Hemming Reading Mrs. Sanya Richards-Ross 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Song of Celebration The Lord’s My Shepherd (Happy Wanderer) Letter from Congresswoman
Read by Annabel Brewster
Reading of Resolution and Proclamation Tribute Dr . Randy Katz Video Presentation Reading Hebrews 12:1-3
Dr. Andrea Archer
Tributes Dominic Jones, Brittany Hendricks Chamele Moss, Courtney Russell Dance Performance Ms. Mikala Phillips Eulogy Ms. Marlene Hendricks Mrs. Negrita Chin Tributes Mr. Darren Stewart Mr. Anthony Stewart Words of Encouragement Bishop Duane Swilley Recessional
HONOR GUARD
Everton Chin Stefon Reid Ricky Cunningham Bill Slade Yasmany Baez Alex Stewart DiAndre Johnson Khamal Taylor Reggie Chambers Mandre Brooks
Rachel Gordon Ahmarie Holmes Chantel St. Simon Lauren St. Simon Amanda Lopez Jessica Torres Amanda Gordon Rhiana Perez Ariel Brooks Ramone Wilson
THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD Happy Wanderer Tune
The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want; He makes me down to lie In pastures green; He leadeth me The quiet waters by. Chorus He lives, He lives, He lives I know that my Redeemer lives, He lives He lives, He lives within my heart My soul He doth restore again, And me to walk doth make Within the paths of righteousness, E’en for His own name’s sake. Chorus
My table Thou hast furnished In presence of my foes; My head Thou dost with oil anoint, And my cup overflows. Chorus Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surely follow me; And in God’s house forevermore, My dwelling place shall be. Chorus
Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, Yet will I fear no ill; For Thou art with me, and Thy rod And staff me comfort still. Chorus
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. 1 Corinthians 15:19-20
THANK YOU BRIANNE
Brianne, you taught me at a young age that no dream is too far-fetched and with hard work I can take over the world. You showed me how to always challenge my full potential. Thank you Bri. Love Chantal Thank you Bri, for the sleepovers, the gossip, the laughs, the hugs, the smiles, the advice, the help, the ear to listen, and the phone calls that I will cherish as memories for ever. Thank you for teaching me the epitome of sisterhood and the true definition to the words “best friend”. Lolo You taught me that education was important…having something to fall back on. Always pushing me forward no matter how much I fought you on it. Thank you for showing me that color nor blood matters, you showed me that true friends can become family. Thank you for being a sister that I’ve never had and being by my side for the last 15 years. Love you forever. The crème to your Oreo – Amanda. Know your worth and be sure that the world knows it because we are queens. Love Nina. I remember Brianne with her own words… “When I think about myself and where I came from… to where I am now… I really do feel like anybody who has me in their life, it’s a gift.” “I want to be able to look at everyone in my life and be able to say I am lucky and beyond grateful to have them in my life.” “I’m a catch, and I hope my friends feel as blessed to have me in their lives as I do them.” Brianne, I was blessed. Remembering you with love always, Rachel.
Thank you first of all for being a part of my life for 24 beautiful years. I am most thankful for your demonstration of how to get up after being knocked down. Thank you for leaving the light on! I will always love you, Aunty Marlene. Brianne, girl, thank you for always keeping it “real and poppin”. You never backed away from saying it straight and I always appreciate that about you. Go in peace - Aunty Marie. Brianne, thank you for always being positive and living with good intentions. You are always confident that nothing is too hard, no matter what it is, it can be done. I am so appreciative of the flowers you brought me, at my job, for my birthday. Your thoughtfulness will always be remembered and appreciated. Lots of love, Aunty Paulette. There are no words to encapsulate my love and appreciation for you. Thank you for teaching me to trust, believe, and have confidence in my dreams. Thank you for believing in me & for being my best friend and adrenaline junkie partner. We’ll never know anyone else like you in this lifetime. Love always, Brittany. Bri was the sister I never had. She lit up the room and could draw anybody out of their shell. She was the epitome of a good friend and went out of her way to make sure every one of us knew how special we were to her. She was the most amazing aunt to baby Maximus, making sure he had memories to last a lifetime. She will be dearly missed not only among our family but among all of her friends that she made her family. Dr. Jen Sedor
THANK YOU
The Stewart family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation for the words of encouragement, flowers, visits, hugs, and prayers. Truly, there are no words to express how much we sincerely appreciate your support. On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, our lives were forever changed by the unexpected loss of our daughter, sister, grand-daughter, niece, cousin, co-worker and a friend to many. Our minds are overwhelmed with questions, and our hearts are heavy with pain. We are left with a void that we may never be able to fill. Over the past two weeks we have had the distinct privilege of speaking with many of you. We heard stories of Brianne’s impact in your lives, how she made a difference, how she provided for others, shared her knowledge, gave encouragement, inspired friends and family, made you laugh and even taught you a thing or two. These encounters and all your expressions of love have been a source of comfort and strength to us at this difficult time. We are grateful to you.
PALLBEARERS Anthony Darren Trevor Craig Wallie Alston Gabe Chris
Stewart Stewart McDonald Mitchell Sharpe Smith Holmes Higgins
INTERMENT
REPAST
Fred Hunters Memorial Gardens 3001 N 72nd Ave. Hollywood, FL 33024
Cooper City Church of God 9191 Stirling Rd Cooper City, FL 33328
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Professional services provided by Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Home 1600 N University Drive Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
Concept Design & Editing Annette Taylor-Spence Love Care Fronting 954-439-5615
Printing Pentecostal Tabernacle International, Inc. www.PenTab.org 305-651-9696
Graphic Design & Layout Shawn Ferguson Gracious Grafx Studios www.GraciousGrafx.com 954-515-9016
OKAY NOW… LET’S GET IN FORMATION TAKE THESE LEMONS… …MAKE LEMONADE
FEBRUARY 1, 1994 – DECEMBER 4, 2018