[homewithtwinsmama]

I just returned and it was a magnificent celebration of her life. As one speaker said "we are here to celebrate Lora and the water coming out of our eyes is just a cleansing for our spirits." At one point (it was such a moment Lora would have appreciated) the CD player wasn't working and they had been about to play Breaths by Honey in The Rock. And a friend of Lora's stood up and sang it so gorgeously a cappella right then and there. It was so much better that way! I learned things I didn't know like her passion for salsa dancing. The drumming meditations were amazing and the dancing both during the service and the salsa dancing at the reception just made you smile and know that Lora would have loved everything planned in her honor. The crowd was standing room only literally. I would say over 200 folks there. As someone said, community was so important to her and just look at what a grand community she created out of all of us. There are plans for a memory book for the kids so they are asking for letters with memories you might have and any pictures to be sent for this book. There is a fundraiser coming up May 18 that is a concert. They are also asking for immediate donations of gift cards for grocery and Target to help take care of the kids immediate needs. I can send you an address if you PM me if there is any part of these ongoing plans for Lora's tribe to lift up her children and their family members.<br><br>
Lorrie

 

[ABand3]

Thank you for keeping everyone updated.<br><br>
I have been thinking of her all day today.

 

[Hoffa]

It was a beautiful service to honor Lora. Her family has a lot of strength. Her son did a dance for her after the service as did her sister and some friends. It is still hard to accept that she is gone. We need more people like her.<br>
Namaste

 

[UltimateSerj]

that sounds so wonderful, i am glad that Evelyn and Shannon made it from my house this morning to the services!

 

[koofie]

It sounds beautiful, and congratulations Susan!<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[FrederickMama]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>UltimateSerj</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7972773"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">that sounds so wonderful, i am glad that Evelyn and Shannon made it from my house this morning to the services!</div>
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Oh My <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br>
Congratulations.

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>UltimateSerj</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7972773"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">that sounds so wonderful, i am glad that Evelyn and Shannon made it from my house this morning to the services!</div>
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Congratulations! How did it go? Please post a birth story.<br>
I'm so glad the service was so moving. I wish I had known her. She really sounds like an amazing woman.

 

[mirabai]

Oh yes....today's service was magical, uplifting. After a week of feeling so sad, I was, for a brief moment, energized and so very comforted during her service. I was moved by the drummer's explanation of his role: to help rise up the energy level. I was reminded of just how healing sound is- the human voice, the drums, the salsa music, the clapping. Our communal tears were cleansing us...<br><br>
And, when Evelyn said, "oh I wish Lora and I were at a birth right now"...well, that just brought me back to Lora's passion and dedication, and I celebrated her.<br><br>
Our love for Lora will carry us through. Let us dance, sing, Ommmmmm...with our children. For Lora.<br><br>
Jennifer

 

[earthmommy2]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>UltimateSerj</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7972773"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">that sounds so wonderful, i am glad that Evelyn and Shannon made it from my house this morning to the services!</div>
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I didn't know Lora, but it sounds like she savored and enjoied life...Something tells me that Caroline made her apperance on this day to remind us all of the beauty in the circle of life and most of all, that Lora's mission to serve woman (as with Evelyn and Shannon) in having the most natural and peaceful experiance!!!<br><br>
congrats!!!

 

[koofie]

For those that believe that people's spirit come back in a new life may just wonder about Caroline's arrival!<br><br>
I am so glad that Lora's service provided people with some healing. I didn't know Lora, but I can tell from other people that she was a very special woman.<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>earthmommy2</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7977464"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I didn't know Lora, but it sounds like she savored and enjoied life...Something tells me that Caroline made her apperance on this day to remind us all of the beauty in the circle of life and most of all, that Lora's mission to serve woman (as with Evelyn and Shannon) in having the most natural and peaceful experiance!!!<br><br>
congrats!!!</div>
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[jbobys]

Im so sad I wasnt able to make it to the services~ it sounds beautiful. Thank you for sharing your experiences of the event with us. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[Isaac'sMa]

Thank you for sharing. It sounds like it was a wonderful celebration of Lora. I am sorry I missed it.

 

[morecheeseplease]

Hi. My name is Donna and I am Shariff’s (father to Jaya and Adero) girlfriend. I want to thank everyone for your OVERWHELMING support and love at such a tragic time. I’ve had the privilege of meeting Lora and saw her occasionally when she would drop the kids off at Shariff’s or we’d run into each other shopping at Wholefoods. She was an incredibly warm and loving woman and an amazing mother. If you’ve ever met her children, you could see the extension of she and Shariff combined. I feel like I was given the chance to understand who she was and what she represented during the ceremonies on Friday celebrating her life. She spread laughter and love to everyone around her and touched so many people during her 30 years. The ceremonies were a true celebration of her life and what she meant to so many people as a sister, mother, daughter, and friend. You had to be there to feel the beat of the drum raising your energy and lifting your spirit, feel the joy of Raquel’s love as she danced to commemorate Lora, be transported to a place of peace through the incredible voice of the young woman from Fertile Ground, and feel the love of her family and friends as they salsa’ed and shared stories of the woman who brought life into this world and joy into our hearts. Lora’s family has set up an educational fund for her beautiful children, Jaya and Adero. If you would like more information, please call 301-210-3566.<br>
(message from Lora’s family) --- In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to an educational fund we are establishing for Lora’s dear children, Adero (7) and Jaya (5). You may make checks payable to Lora’s sister, Kimberly Min, and send to Kimberly Min, Esq. (c/o Jean Burgess), 4201 Somerville Court , Laurel , MD 20708 . Questions, please call 301-210-3566.<br>
Love,<br>
The Burgess family<br>
Again, thank you for your continued love and support. I know Shariff and Lora’s family truly appreciate what everyone has done and how everyone has reached out at such a time of tragedy. May Lora’s light and beautiful spirit continue to shine through each and every one of us.<br><br>
Blessings and peace,<br>
Donna