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Tribute to a Beautiful and Caring Young
man
Jasmine M. Ellis
W, : wpy;
On October 24,2011 Spelman, was
saddened to announce the passing of Bev
erly Garrett, a beautiful and beloved sister
of the Spelman Community. Memorials
were held throughout the AUC for Beverly
at both the Promenade and Spelman Col
lege’s Sisters Chapel.
Sadly Beverly struggled with depression
for many years an illness that Beverly
would battle with until the very end. Bev
erly’s parents Carlos Garrett and Sherry
Garret want their daughter’s life to not be
in vain. Mr. Garrett would like students to
educate themselves on depression and seek
help if needed.
“Depression is an illness and in this
illness we need to be educated on symp
toms of isolation and loneliness. We need
to find avenues of treatment and counsel
ing for recovery whether we need to set up
outreach pro
grams within
the campus
community
or get outside
professional
help. There rHf
needs to be av
enues to battle ^
this illness to fk
sustain life. In
an effort to
battle depres
sion it takes a
kind heart to
try to under
stand and get
help, but most
importantly
having a rela
tionship with
the Lord will
defiantly help
battling this ill
ness,” said Mr.
Garrett.
Mr. Garrett
also wants stu
dents to know
that “there’s
love and help out here” and students
should “help somebody help themselves.”
Mrs. Garrett would like fellow Spelmanites
as well as family members and friends to
remember Beverly for the type person she
was and the beautiful spirit she possessed.
“Beverly was a very warm and kind per
son who was very sensitive. People would
always call her passive because she was
very soft and not very aggressive. She
was a very giving person and very nice
to people. Beverly had an overwhelming
sense of fairness and doing the right thing.
She had expectations of people doing the
right thing. She was a good girl,” said Mrs.
Garrett.
Beverly’s big heart would transcend into
her passion for politics and her career
choice.
“Her life goal was to work for
the Jimmy Carter Center and be a peace
keeper, but do it from a political stand
point. She [Beverly] was very passionate
about politics and had a sense of rights.
She didn’t want to be a politician, but she
wanted to work with foreign government
like Jimmy Carter does now,”
Garrett.
Beverly
her freshman year
later decide to transfer to
her first semester of her sopho
Mrs. Garrett shares how Bever]
academically.
“She [Beverly] did very well at
State University. She really wanted to be
a Spelmanite and was happy when she got
in. She said Spelman was academically
challenging and she felt comfortable there.
Beverly worked two part time jobs to go to
Spelman and was still doing well academi
cally. Beverly was always really smart.
She didn’t make herself stand out, but her
teachers always recognized how smart she
was. She was always studying and inter-
Lg with friends. She went to home-
and a concert. She was a genuine
xy selfless, and kind. She
Mrs. Garrett.
Spelman student Diamond Sands reflects
on the good times she and Beverly had
shared.
“Beverly has been close to me since 10th
grade and we had been friends since ele
mentary. She has lived with me on several
occasions and traveled with my family on
vacations. Her here at Spelman was excit
ing for me and I was happy that she came.
She definitely brightened my day when I
was sad. I miss her more than anyone will
ever know. I love her,” said Sands.
Howard University student and Beverly’s
best friend, Taliah Broyard, reminisces on
her and Beverly’s friendship throughout
the years.
“Beverly and I became friends
in the sixth grade, and later best friends
around the eighth. Even back then, I
sensed the beauty and rareness in her
- - :mm - , «
spirit. We were complete opposites, but
that was what I loved most. Our bond was
genuine, and that is something I am not
able to say about many. Yes, she was my
very best friend, but she was also my sister.
She was the closest thing to a sister I’ve
ever had. I was extremely protective of
Beverly, even though technically she was
older than I was. I remember most doing
her hair, picking out her outfits, and taking
her prom dress shopping in Hollywood,
California (after I had moved there). We
had a chance to make newer memories
when she came to Howard University in
September, 2011 to visit, and we partied,
partied, partied,” said Broyard.
In addition Broyard touches on Beverly’s
spirit and shares how she wants people to
be more compassionate towards others
and not take life for granted.
“Overall, Beverly was a gentle soul,
a very sweet, pure, compassionate, loving,
tender, innocent, and beautiful soul. She
never, and I mean NEVER, would pur-
smile or frown. Also, please cherish your
friends. Good friends are hard to come by
and Beverly was the only person I had ever
in life called my true Best Friend and now
all I do is wish that I had listened even
more empathically and hugged her 10
times more. But the important thing now
is her happiness, and I am grateful for it.
My heart is forever connected to hers and
her spirit still lives within mine as well as
within you,” said Broyard.
From a very young age, Beverly was always
involved with extracurricular activities.
Mrs. Garrett touches on some of the extra
curricular activities that Beverly partici
pated in.
“She was a part of the Model UN
in high school and loved political is
sues. She liked soccer and played soccer
for the YMCA, in middle school, and in
%Mfehigh school at the
varsity level. She
mentioned playing
soccer at Spelman,”
said Mrs. Garrett.
Beverly’s other
favorite hobbies
included outdoor
activities such as
camping. While
at Georgia State
University Beverly
ent white water
irafting with the
emerging leaders
program. Beverly
loved to swim and
planned on getting
her scuba diving
license.
“She loved the wa
ter and the serenity
of it. She was an
outdoorsy person,”
said Mrs. Garrett.
Beverly was an
Savid reader and
oved to read
specifically works
y Dan Brown.
She also enjoyed all types of literature and
loved historical fiction. Beverly would also
read two to three books a month. Beverly
also loved to travel and wanted to study
abroad as well as go to Brazil. She also
enjoyed going to church and found it to
be comforting. Most importantly Beverly
enjoyed spending time with her mother
whether they were working out in the gym
or walking around the neighborhood.
“She hung out with me a lot. We would go
to the movies and go shopping. She loved
shopping and fashion. We loved Mexican
food,” said Mrs. Garrett.
Beverly will truly be missed by her family,
friends, and the Spelman community. She
will always be remembered for her beauti
ful and loving spirit.
instead of cry.
listening to a couple of her favor
ists, India Arie and Andre 3000,1 d
constantly looking back at her picture i
knowing she was looking down laughing ‘
at me and I laughed back. After the tears,
I want everyone to see this as a positive
thing because I can promise you that she
is more happy in heaven than she was here
on earth. I also want people to take this as
a lesson. Pie
has a