Memory Book: Givon Nakai O'Neal

Homegoing Celebration

GIVON NAKAI O’NEAL

Sunrise

Sunset

April 30, 1994 - April 1, 2016

P I L G R I M

R E S T

B A P T I S T

SERVICES 12 Noon Friday, April 15 1404 E Jefferson Street Phoenix AZ 85034

C H U R C H

Officiating Rev. Freddie Brown, Jr., Mt. Calvary Baptist Church

My Book of Life

GIVON NAKAI O’NEAL My life started like all human life starts. Not on the day I was born, but the day I was conceived: 39 weeks and 1 day before I burst onto the scene. It was a hot July night when Erik O’Neal bka King Savior Fat Her. That’s Five Percent for impregnating your Earth, His Earth. My Mother, Angela Gray.

Yeah, my father had a weird way of talking, He called it the Mathematics. I never really understood it, but that's cool because he is my dad. Like the Phoenix, I was created in the flames of the Sun on that hot July night – 39 weeks and 1 day before I wandered down the path of life, beginning my book of life on Saturday, April 30, 1994, in Phoenix, Arizona, at Good Samaritan Hospital. I've been told I came into the world full of passion and determination, a little fiery. Maybe it was the crook in my neck that I got traveling down the birthing canal that made me fiery. Or maybe it was the ride my mother purposefully took down those bumpy hills at Kiwanis Park on the cardboard boxes that gave me the crook in my neck. I really don't know. All I know is it hurt like hell. But I was happy to be here. And here was full of love.

I come from the seed of Erik O'Neal and the soil of Angela Moore-Gray, the 5th one to join “Angie's Kids” – as we were affectionately called by our Granny and Auntie Kim. I am not sure who we were most afraid of when it came to our parents: my father, whom we call Papi, and his lectures; or my mother and her baseball bat. Most times I took the baseball bat because the sting of the bat wore off after a few seconds, but getting lectured while you're getting a whooping is doubly painful. My mother is my nurturer, my first teacher, my biggest fan. I love the conversations we have, the silent moments admiring the beautiful mornings, and how she laughs at my jokes, funny or not. My mother is my joy.

Tasha, Jamal, Tiera, Jazmine and Jair are my friends, my foes, my competition, my siblings, my heart. I’m close with my brothers and sisters,

but I must admit: Tasha is my comfort, my big sister mama. And Jamal, I look up to Jamal like he was God's gift of big brothers to little brothers. Man, Jamal is my man! Jamal had me all over the Valley. I swear I knew everyone in Phoenix before I was 3. I always look forward to our "man talk" sessions, Jamal.

Tasha, what you cookin’? ‘What you want G?’ is the reply I always like, because I like to eat. Ay, ay! T and Jaz, y’all got five dollars I can borrow ? Yeah I know, I always say I’ma pay you back. I will, too (but sometimes I forget). You know I love you, right?

Me and my sisters have a real special bond. Jazmine is my heart. She understands me the most and usually has the right words for me that helps me see things in a different light, always good advice. My sister Tiera, the homie, she’s always there for me; no matter what, she always has my back – from a little change in my pocket to a place to get away, chill, relax and talk about dogs (more in particular pit bulls).

We are tight. My family is real tight and my little brother Jair, the baby of the bunch, he has so much promise. I always tell him if you can dream it you can be it. I really enjoy watching my little brother, Jair, play football; he is awesome. I admire him because he is so much better than I was on the football field. I mean, I have

the skills and ability, just not the desire.

Once, when I was playing Pop Warner, I believe I was 8 years old, I stood up in the middle of a game, took off my helmet and shoulder pads and shouted to the Head Coach, Ay Dad, I don't want to play no more. That was the day I got the lesson on finishing what you start and never quit until the job or your commitment is done.

It’s beautiful to reminisce and reflect back over the journey I have taken up until this day. Man, there's so many stories I can

share from my childhood, like my annual summer trips to Virginia to visit my grandmother Daisy, my uncle Hashim and my aunts Lavinia and Ayana. Trips to New York and Alabama with them. My uncle Hashim still mad that my grandpa Lenny bought me a bike before buying him a bike, makes a brother like me feel special.

But I digress. So let me proceed with the story of my beginning, my book of life.

There’s two women in my life that captivated me from the moment I met them. From the very first time I placed my eyes on them I was stuck, awestruck and in love. My mother, Angela, and Niara, my love at first sight. I put in work to get her attention, I ain’t lying! Ask her, she'll tell you. See, I went old school on her, and courted her. Mother taught me that. Who's Mother? She's my greatgrandmother.

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I tried to move heaven and earth to get to know her name, Niara Thompson. Y’all should say that 3 times: Niara, Niara, Niara! That's what I did when I first learned her name. What a beautiful name. She’s my girl, you know that forever love, she’s my forever love, my Baby Boo. You wanna hear something funny? I went to the school just to walk her to class, have lunch with her, ride the bus with her to make sure she got home after school, everyday, my boo. Ay, Niara, remember when I told you that you were going to be my wife and the mother of my kids? Have I ever told you how proud I am of you for giving me the gift of Za’Nyah and Za’Layah. I'm here, I might get mad sometimes but I ain’t ever going to leave.

I remember my dad telling me the story of how he told me my name. He said when he and my mother brought me home from the hospital, he took me outside into the backyard, took off my blanket and diaper. He had already placed all the things that are symbolic of what I will need in life on the table in the backyard. There was some palm oil, water, a little sugar, salt, pepper, Kola Nut, honey, fried fish, a pen, and the Bible on the table. He told me he held held my naked body in his arms, he then brought my ear close to his mouth and whispered Givon Nakai O'Neal. He whispered it 7 times before saying it aloud. Givon means “Higher Heights” because he will rise higher than the mountains. Nakai means “One who wanders pure and clean,” because he has an adventurous soul. After telling the world my name, he raised me high above his head into the Full Moon Lit Sky and told me to behold the only thing greater than me. The Sun, Moon, Stars, God and the Universe. I love it when my dad tells me that story. It always brings a smile to my heart. My dad is always telling me stories, and you know what?

I’ll never get tired of listening to how I came to be in this world… starting 39 weeks and 1 day before April 30th 1994, the day I was born.

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GMoney

Celebration of Life

GIVON NAKAI O’NEAL 12 Noon Friday, April 15, 2016

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Processional Musical Prelude “Storm Is Over Now” Invocation ………………………………………………………………………. Issac McCowen Scripture Reading: Old Testament …………………………………….. Pastor Harvey Williams Scripture Reading: New Testament ……………………………………… Minister Arnett Brice Music Selection: “Precious Lord”………………………………………………LaTrease Ingram Reason for Occasion ……………………………………………………………Darren Chapman Music Selection: “Amen”……………………………………………………….. Kenny Williams Poem for my Brother (Jamal Moore) ……………………………………………. Dana Williams Special Tribute to our Brother: A Poem …………………………………………………Siblings Praise Dance: “Take Me To The King”……………………………………………Chanel Wright Acknowledgements and Condolences ……………………………………………Arnecia Benton Expressions (2mins please) ……………………………………………..……Family and Friends Music selection: “I Want It That Way”(G’s favorite childhood song) ……….… Kenny Williams A Father’s Reflection: In Review of My Life Cycle …………………………………Erik O’Neal Special Remarks by Family and Friends (2mins please) Music Selection …………………………………………………………………LaTrease Ingram Special Words of Inspiration: Eulogy …………………………………… Rev. Freddie Brown Jr. Mt. Calvary Mission Baptist Church You may greet the family as you leave the sanctuary.

The repast is at South Phoenix Baptist Church immediately following the services.

Father To Son The first time I laid my eyes on you I knew my life would never be the same because game recognize game. April 30th 1994 was a birth and a rebirth. See April 30th 1994 was the day you – my son, Givon – was born. And the day I was reborn.

What a powerful gift you are. What a powerful blessing from God. Because you saved my life.

Remember, remember I used to tell you that?! Oh, my son my son my son.

I traveled through the same electric storm. The day you were born I felt every bump your mother hit as she rolled down the hills of Kiwanis Park on broken down cardboard boxes. You remember t h a t ? Ye a h , i t wa s a bumpy ride. But we made it just in time; I don’t think your mother was in labor more than 30 minutes.

Then the bright white clouds of the Angels rolled in, the electricity intensified as we traveled down the birthing canal.

And with every push you traveled closer to the surface me – and your mom – we transformed. The 3 of us traveling with no epidural. She became this super human, a woman with incredible strength. You were eager to see the world. Another Push… almost there world.

I could feel my soul shifting, my internal eternal Being transforming metamorphosis to the nth degree.

PUUUUUSH!!

You came out fearless. And I know, I know that’s how you died. Fearless! Because only a gift from God can stare the devil in the face head cocked to the side (you know how you hold it) and say: “I’m not afraid of you!” You mirrored me so much from the walk to the poetic lyrics. Fearless!

You are our gift from God. I named you Givon, a name suggested by your uncle, Hashim. I chose

it because it means “Higher Heights.” Remember asking me that, asking what Nakai means. The Navajo say “One who wanders.” The Hebrew say “pure and clean.” I was reborn on that day. April 30th 1994. Your light let me see my God inside.

21 years 11 months and 1 day later there was another birth and rebirth. The 3 of us on another journey, traveling through an electric storm brought in by the Bright White Clouds of the Angels. But this time there’s more passengers…

ROLL CALL!!

Jamal, Denari, Amarion, J o r i ’ n . Y ’ a l l re a d y ?

Tasha, you ready? Tiera, Tocara, D’Angelo. Y’all ready? Jazmine and Zelik, strap in! Hasyah, Basheerah and Ishmael come on! Niara, Za’Nyah, Za’Layah! Jair, you get next to the window.

And hold on tight because we’re about to take a journey on the Mothership. Delta 88.

Ro l l i n g t h r o u g h t h e birthing canal, bumping down the hills on cardboard boxes. Your favorite Tu p a c s o n g t h e background music, the theme song to this journey.

Because on April 1st 2016 – 21 years 11 months and 1 day later – you were born again.

Living up to your name. Traveling to Higher Heights.

Wandering pure and clean in the House of God. Mashallah because that’s God’s will.

For us to be rebirthed.

On April 30th 1994 you saved my life. By being born on April 1st 2016 you did it again… by being reborn!

Travel safe, my son.

Our Brother aka GMoney I can dig it. I see it all, baby.

Don’t cry. Fly with the angels.

It’s always greater later. Lil brother in the end we’ll meet again. Smiling for that!

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I got the babies, bet that!

You made me a proud big brother since before I could remember. Outspoken & bad to the bone. My lil brother! Why wouldn’t you be.

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I got the ladies: May, Granny, Amber, Tasha, T & Jazz. I’ll touch down soon & me & Pop gone chill. I’ll always remember my lil brother. I love you.

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Before I got locked I would see you everyday. We’ll talk everyday now. When you were younger I’d call you “Soldier,” and you’d say “Salute.” I never told you that it always made me feel so big brother! I got you! Head up rida. I salute you now lil brother at peace.

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P.S. Yo girl already know she family.

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PEACE! Big Bro Jamal

Mother and Son I would give my life to have you back, said his Mom I know you would, said her son.

I cry each night for you, said his Mom And I catch all of your tears, said her son I pray for the day that I can see you again, said his Mom Close your eyes and you can see me, said her son…

You are the first person who loved me, and you are the first person I loved. you were always there when I needed you, and you always knew when I needed a hug.

I am here for you now, Mom in your heart and in your soul.

I did not take your heart with me instead I left mine with you to hold One day I will take your hand and lead you to paradise, but until then my beautiful mother, when you want to see me you only need to close your eyes…

E.warby

Acknowledgments The Family of Givon Nakai O’Neal would like to thank all the family and friends for their thoughts, kindness, prayers and comfort during our loss. Thank you for making this homegoing one of true celebration. We will forever remember Givon, and we will forever have you in our hearts for blessing us during this difficult time.

May Givon forever live in you. Special thanks to Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Universal Memorial Center and South Phoenix Baptist Church, as well as to Rev. Freddie Brown of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church (1204 Pima St, Phoenix).

The Family of Givon Nakai O’Neal asks that you consider honoring him with planting a lemon tree.

He will continue to Blossom & Grow!