Danielle Brown's loved ones hold a memorial
Boxes of tissues were neatly placed on the inside of the pews at Ivan Assembly of God as friends gathered Saturday for a celebration of the life of Danielle Brown.
Brown, 21, was last seen Feb. 5 with her ex-boyfriend, Elijah James III, who is in jail in Georgia on charges of arson and grand theft. He is a suspect in her disappearance, law-enforcement officials have said.
"It's just so hard," said her sister, Nicole Sheffield, who was in tears throughout the service. "I don't know what I want to say, especially on a day like today."
The church was filled to capacity for the memorial service. Several mourners came dressed in purple, Brown's favorite color. Before the service started, the church was quiet except for a whisper of "Amazing Grace" playing in the background.
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* Brown Memorial
Brown's great aunt, Caroline Hardiman, gave the eulogy, which read like a biography of Brown's life. She recounted funny stories, like when Brown began dance lessons at age three and during creative moments would dance to her own routine.
Hardiman talked about Brown's achievements — graduating from the Second Chance School and later completing a cosmetology program at North Florida Cosmetology Institute. She recalled holidays like Easter and Brown's unmistakable laugh. She read from Brown's last journal entries, where Brown talked how much she loved her grandmother, Nancy Brown, who lived next door.
" 'Nan' has always been the backbone of my life, as well as the rest of the family," Hardiman said.
Her cousin Mindy Kay Trice wrote a poem in her honor. She stood before the congregation of people with tears rolling down her face, "There's a hole in my heart where your smile used to stay," she read. "So I wear a purple ribbon in your memory everyday."
She continued, "I remember I used to laugh when you always called me Mindy Kay, falling in love, having a family, going back to school, all examples of things you will never get to do."
When the service ended, friends surrounded the family, eager to give them words of comfort and hugs. Brown's mom, Sonja Brown, said the service was a beautiful tribute to her "little baby." Sheffield agreed.
"The service was a nice remembrance of her," she said. "But we won't have closure until she's found. We need that closure so badly."
After the service, the family returned home and released 21 balloons — 10 in the shape of purple hearts, 10 shaped like butterflies and a gold one that read, "Our angel Danielle."
(there are several pictures that would not copy/paste)
Glenn Beil/Democrat Sonja Brown, center, Danielle Brown's mother, and family members watch a photo slide show of Danielle's life Saturday at a memorial at Ivan Assembly of God Church in Crawfordville.
Glenn Beil/Democrat Sonja Brown, center, Danielle Brown's mother, and family members watch a photo slide show of Danielle's life Saturday at a memorial at Ivan Assembly of God Church in Crawfordville. (Glenn Beil/Tallahassee Democrat)
Danielle T. Brown, 21.
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/...S/Danielle-Brown-s-loved-ones-hold-a-memorial
Rest In Peace.....Danielle Brown
