Sharon Martin

Forever Loved

Love is stronger than death!

Travis & Zeniya

S

haron Alethia Brooks was born at the Mandeville hospital in Jamaica on the 12th of November, 1971. Her parents, Utel and Colin Brooks, were overjoyed at her birth. Sharon was the younger of their two children; Janet was older but not by much. As a result, the two acted like twins and their mother took the opportunity to dress them alike. This clearly influenced their adult lives as they have a similar taste in clothes and fashion.

When Sharon was about 5 years old, her parents took jobs in different parts of the island to provide for the family. During that time, she was raised by her great grandmother, affectionately called Naany, and her father assisted whenever he was in Manchester. Naany was trusted in this role because she had raised Sharon’s mother and many others in the family.

Sharon attended Frankfield Primary School until she and Janet moved to Kingston to live with their mother. She attended St. Francis All Age School until she was 15 years old. She was a tall, skinny, and athletic teenager. Her favorite sports were the relays in track and field and volleyball. She was the tomboy of the family. She loved to play bat and ball (an aspiring cricketer and didn’t even know it) and she loved to climb.

In her early teenage years, Sharon and Janet went to live with Auntie Mina (now deceased) and their two cousins, Shawn and Karen. Their mother had gotten an

opportunity to seek a better life for them in the United States and she took it. It was during this stay with Auntie Mina that she got the nickname “Bones” and where all four cousins called each other by one nickname, “Boogie.” However, each of them knew which one needed to answer depending on the tone and who was in the vicinity when the name was called. Sharon was the only one with two nicknames.

Their stay with Auntie Mina wasn’t long because in 1987 they were reunited with their mother in the United States. Sharon attended Miami Edison High School, then North Miami Senior High School. It was at that school she met a friend, Helen, who invited her to church at Faith Tabernacle where she was baptized on her first visit. Her mother was waiting on her that night for hours only to hear from Sharon, in her excited voice, “Mommy! mi get baptize!” Her mother replied, “You did what? Do you understand what you did?” Sharon replied, “Yes mommy!”

After high school, she worked at Aventura hospital as a dietician aid. During that time, she went on vacation to Jamaica and met Jason Martin who eventually became her husband when they got married in 1995. They were married for 13 years; the marriage ended in a divorce.

After leaving Faith Tabernacle, Sharon attended Pentecostal Tabernacle in Miami Gardens, with her sister Janet, for many years.

Prior to her marriage to Jason, Sharon gave birth to her son, Travis– her heartbeat and her world. He was her pride and joy and she loved him unconditionally.

She was always proud of him especially when he became a dad. His tenacity in finding out everything on Google about his baby daughter earned him a nickname. Sharon would chuckle with laughter when saying it. She called him “Google Babyfather”.

She would say, “Yes sah, him love fi him pickney – fi mi grand baby – mi luv har yu si!” We are not sure if Travis knew that he had that nickname.

Sharon was very ambitious and hardworking. She was never out of a job but was always on the lookout for a better one. She worked as a TSA agent at Miami International Airport and at American Express. Her ambition was one of the driving forces behind Sharon relocating to New York where she resided in North Bronx. In March of 2007, she got a job at West Meds Medical Center in Westchester County (NY) working as a Clerical Coordinator, where she worked for 7 years. This was the medical coding career that she had trained for at a community college in Miami. She was passionate about it, and she was very good at it.

After taking a flu shot, Sharon got ill. She returned to Miami in 2016 to stay with her sister Janet. She was later diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome.

This illness caused Sharon to be partially paralyzed along with having other neurological issues. She couldn’t walk but the Lord kept her here with us for as long as He wanted. She maintained a good attitude throughout her fight with this syndrome and would still smile as often as she could. One of her favorite statements was “I smile through the pain.”

On August 27, 2021, at 7:00 a.m., the Lord took Sharon home. She leaves behind her son – Travis; her granddaughter – Zeniya; mother - Utel Brooks; father Colin Brooks; her sister - Janet Brooks and her 2 nieces, Bianca and Jennay, 5 uncles, 6 aunts, and numerous cousins and friends.

We are thankful for the time we had Sharon; for all the love, smiles, giggles, and memories that she generously gave to each one of us. Her life was short, but the memory of her will last a lifetime. Sharon Alethia Brooks, you will be missed but not forgotten – sleep on my beloved in Glory Land.

In closing, this poem was written specifically for Sharon: I wish you sweet sleep, my cousin dear.

You fought a good fight, more than you could bear, You fought against all odds even when doctors thought otherwise.

Your God, the greatest physician, said not until I give her wings to fly.

I want to know what crossed your mind.

Unspoken words you’ve left behind.

Undone things we’ll never do.

No sharing thoughts you never knew.

A peace has fallen upon your head, A taste of sorrow we have been fed.

A hole is now left in our hearts, that will never be refilled now that we’re apart.

So...sleep on, my dear cousin, your light is still shining.

Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning…

What joy you ask? What joy you say?

Seeing you again when the Lord returns on that blessed day!

Living Within The Beats of Our Hearts

W

e pray that God will give us strength, and somehow get us through, as we struggle with the heartache that came when we lost you. We wish we could see you walking through the door one more time, but we know that you are no longer here with us, and we will not hear your voice anymore.

Losing an adult child feels like having entire chapters of our lives torn out and shredded. The hurt and pain is very deep. Our love for you, Sharon, is more powerful than death. Though our hearts break and keep breaking to feel you in our arms again, we know that one day we will see each other again and that hug is going to be very special.

For now, something will always remind us of you. We never know just when; it might be something someone says, and it will all come rushing back again. We know you can feel our tears and you don’t want us to cry. We will remember your smile, your cheerfulness, and your bubbly laughter and those tears of sorrow will become tears of joy. The times we’ve spent together will be lasting memories of happiness and fun. You have left us your son and granddaughter who will carry on where you left off. We will see flashes of you in them and be comforted.

We are thankful for the years you were here with us, and we are eternally grateful. Grief is the price we pay for loving you and we will grieve no matter how long it takes. What we cannot say will be wept. It is said that time is a healer. We’re not sure this is true, but we are heartened by our confidence that you are resting in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and we know you are in good hands. As for us, we will always love you Sharon. You live within the beats of our hearts forever more!

From your loving parents, Colin & Utel Brooks

Service of Thanksgiving Processional

Pentab’s Praise Team

Opening Remarks

Pastor S. Robert Stewart

In The New Jerusalem

Prayer Scripture Reading

Bianca McFarlane (Niece)

Just Over in the Glory Land

Congregation

Scripture Reading

Carlette Sewell (cousin)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Hymn

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Tributes

Lorraine Smart (family friend) Miriam Thompson (friend) Shanice Foster (Zeniya’s mother) Jennay Bailey (niece) Janet Bailey (sister) - Read by Grace McDonald Song

I Shall Wear A Crown

Karen Lattibeaudiere (cousin)

Eulogy Lileith Edwards (cousin) Song Evangelist Arlene Williams Oh What a Sunrise Message

Pastor S. Robert Stewart

Prayer for the Family Recessional Pentab’s Praise Team

We Have An Anchor

Songs of Hope JUST OVER IN THE GLORY LAND I’ve a home prepared Where the saints abide, Just over in the glory land; And I long to be by my Savior’s side, Just over in the glory land.

Refrain Just over in the glory land, I’ll join the happy angel band, Just over in the glory land; Just over in the glory land, There with the mighty host I’ll stand, Just over in the glory land.

I am on my way To those mansions fair, Just over in the glory land; There to sing God’s praise and His glory share;

Just over in the glory land.

Refrain What a joyful thought That my Lord I’ll see, Just over in the glory land; And with kindred saved, there forever be, Just over in the glory land.

Refrain With the blood washed throng I will shout and sing, Just over in the glory land; Glad hosannas to Christ, the Lord and King, Just over in the glory land.

Refrain

IN THE NEW JERUSALEM When the toils of life are over, And we lay our armor down, And we bid farewell to earth with all its cares, We shall meet and greet our loved ones, And our Christ we then shall crown, In the new Jerusalem.

Refrain There’ll be singing, there’ll be shouting When the saints come marching home, In Jerusalem, in Jerusalem, Waving palms with loud hosannas As the King shall take His throne, In the new Jerusalem.

Though the way is sometimes lonely, He will hold me with His hand, Through the testings and the trials I must go.

But I’ll trust and gladly follow, For sometime I’ll understand, In the new Jerusalem. Refrain When the last goodbye is spoken And the tear stains wiped away, And our eyes shall catch a glimpse of glory fair, Then with bounding hearts we’ll meet Him Who hath washed our sins away, In the new Jerusalem. Refrain When we join the ransomed army In the summer land above, And the face of our dear Savior we behold, We will sing and shout forever, And we’ll grow in perfect love, In the new Jerusalem. Refrain

My “Sissy Boo” S

haron or Sher as we called her, was my only sibling.

We grew up together with a strong bond and love for each other. Mom dressed us alike even though we were 17 months apart. We stuck to each other and we always had each other’s back. I remember when we were growing up, Sharon would fight all my battles because I was a big cry baby; she did not back down from anyone who was picking on me. I could always rely on my beloved sister to be there for me. We took care of each other, I would baby her and fuss over her, she was my ‘sissy boo.’ It was only natural when Sharon took sick in October 2016, that she called and asked if she could come and stay with me until she felt better. I was overjoyed that she was coming home.

She had moved away to New York and I missed my ‘sissy boo’ like crazy but didn’t want to tell her how much, since I wanted her to follow her dreams.

I was glad to help in any way she needed me. I did not know the nature of her sickness until she came home from New York. I took care of her and encouraged her. Sharon was strong and determined to get better. She started cooking dinner, combing her hair, and dressing herself again. She even travelled to Jamaica to visit mom and dad by herself. Sharon was doing so good and I was proud of her; she was a fighter. We continued to pray together that God would wrap her in his everlasting love and give her a healthy body. We prayed for strength and healing from above. While I prayed for her she was praying for God to give me strength.

She was more concerned about me even during her time of sickness.

Sharon never wanted me to be stressed. She knew how much I loved and needed her so she continued to fight; she wanted to get better and I wanted her to get her life back together. She was more focused on my happiness. Through all her pain and weariness, she continued to show me love. She accepted her faith and was

making herself happy. On October 8, 2020, she took a turn for the worst and was in the hospital more than she was home. Due to COVID-19, we could not visit her in the hospital, but that never stopped us. We made friends with her nurses and we would FaceTime and talk to her. I also had close friends who work at the hospital who visited her and made sure that her family felt connected to her.

We would encourage her and prayed with her daily for healing. We offered her love and encouraging words which would bring a smile to her face. I prayed and begged her to fight and she would say: “Janet, I’m tired” to which I would respond: “Please don’t leave me.” On August 27, 2021 at 7:00 a.m., my sister transitioned home to be with the Lord. My heart hurts so bad, words cannot explain how much I am hurting. My Sharon is gone and I miss her so much. I know she is free from all her burdens and pain and in the arms of God. Sher, I will continue to think of you every day - thinking of all the memories we shared. Thoughts of you fill so many moments of my day. Some days the sadness never leaves me, some days I close my eyes and your memory is so clear. Some days I struggle to go on just wishing you were still here. Some days are filled with tears some days are filled with laughter knowing that you are looking up on the Lord’s face. Even though you are in Heaven now, I want you to know you still mean the world to me.

Rest on my sister - Love Janet.

Memories

S

haron, it is hard to believe that the angels have taken you home at a time we least expected. I never thought a day would come when I would have to say goodbye to my very first best friend. I doubt I will ever be able to get over the pain of your death. Tears are not allowing me to pen how amazing you were.

All I can say is that I am truly heartbroken.

We take solace in the fact that we know you are in a better place, free from sickness and pain. I will truly miss you. You were the only person I could talk to about absolutely anything who wouldn’t judge me for the things I did or said.

You fought so hard. You loved us so much that you held on tight, until all your strength was gone, and you could no longer hold on. Finally, you gave your hand to God and slipped away quietly without telling us goodbye.

People say that death ends a life, not a relationship. I will forever hold you in my heart. I will forever salute you Shar, because you have always been there to support and guide me through life. God gave me the best aunt in the world! You taught me to never give up on my dreams but to persevere no matter how hard the storms may be. So, sit back and watch baby girl; these next couple of wins are for you… my very first best friend.

I love you so much and miss you dearly, Bianca.

M

y Shawa, I miss you so much. There’s not a day that passes by that I do not think about you. Although I have not come to terms with your passing, I will always cherish our moments that we have shared. I remember when I was younger when it was time for children’s church you would always refuse for me to go and would like for me to stay with you. We were always stuck on each other from when I was born until now. We would take the bus to the mall and other stores. I was always by your side. I would come to you about any of my problems or even when I needed advice

and you were always there to listen and to help. When I would be mad about something and cry, you would cry with me because you hated to see me cry.

I remember when we would clean your room together because you couldn’t do much anymore but you always helped yourself and made a way. We used to make trips to the nail shop to get our nails done together because that’s what you loved to do. We went to Walmart for snacks even when you were tired and didn’t feel like it. I would push you in your wheelchair and you would push the shopping cart, driving it all over the place. We cooked together; you taught me how to make ribs, mac and cheese, and potato salad. There was a point in time you couldn’t wash yourself or your hair because you were too weak and I was always there to help you. You talked about it for weeks with anyone you had a chance to tell. I would blow dry your hair, moisturize it, and braid it up for you.

I remember that every time you fell you wouldn’t trust anyone to pick you up except me. You wouldn’t trust anyone to pick you up off the ground or transfer you to any seat beside your ‘Nen.” Lastly, I remember how every time the paramedics came you wouldn’t even let them transfer you and that was their job. I remember how you would also tell your long story to them every time when they would ask about your sickness.

I was supposed to see you the day before you passed but I couldn’t go inside without someone with me. The next day I was supposed to see you in the morning and that same day you passed. I’m mad I couldn’t get to say my goodbyes like I wanted… I’m mad I couldn’t graduate from college before you passed. Based on the circumstances that you were in, I wouldn’t have wanted you to suffer any more and I completely understand that you had to leave. I truly appreciate you and love you so much. No matter how much we would fuss and fight, we always came back together like nothing happened.

To my Auntie Shawa who I love oh so much... my best friend, my counselor, my advisor, and my second mother. Today I will not mourn, but celebrate your life, because you have lived and fought well.

Always and forever – Nen.

A Bright And Shining Star

T

he heavens are brighter by one more star. There are no words that can reveal the depth of my pain and grief for the loss of my beloved niece, Sharon.

I will continue to cherish memories of the joy she brought to my life. Her life was a blessing to all who knew her; she was loving and kind. Memories of her will continue to be precious treasures and will shine through our family each and every day. Sharon was loved beyond words.

I will miss your simile. I will miss your wonderful and gentle soul. My beloved niece, I know you are in the arms of God, watching over and guiding us from above.

Sharon, my beloved niece, may your soul rest in peace Love Aunt Novlet.

In Life And In Death – I Love You

C

ousins are friends that will love you forever!

The day you left and gained your wings, my heart broke into two.

You left me with the greatest of memories. Thinking back on old times - growing up together; spending holidays with our great grandmother in the country - those were some fun times. In later years we were roomies raising our sons together and being there for each other. I remember all the wonderful holiday dinners, gift exchanges, and watching our sons opening presents on Christmas morning. I remember how happy and proud it made us being able to provide them with everything on their Christmas list. You were truly a blessing to all who knew and loved you.

Because someone I love is in heaven, there is a little bit of heaven in my home. I will continue to hold the memories of you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven. On this day, my heart is heavy as I say goodbye to my beloved cousin.

As I mourn your death, I also celebrate your life. I think of your smile, and your bright eyes, and the love you had for family and friends.

In life I loved you dearly and in death I will love you still.

Rest in peace cousin, love Lil.

Thank You

The family of Sharon Martin wishes to thank you for being here today. Each of you gave her so much happiness in her life, and in return we know that she, with each of you, built memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for sharing her life and for every expression of kindness you have shown to us during this time.

We would like to extend special thanks to the Pentecostal Tabernacle family who have been very empathetic, accommodating, and supportive. We also thank Royal Funeral Service who gave patient and thoughtful service.

The Family

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

INTERMENT

Royal Funeral Service Inc.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Central

17475 NW 27th Avenue Miami Gardens, FL 33056 305-625-6818 REPAST

New Life Worship Center’s Church Hall

7667 Venetian Street Miramar, FL 33023

499 NW 27th Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 954-581-9033 PRINTING

Pentecostal Tabernacle International, Inc.

www.PenTab.org 305-651-9696

PALL BEARERS Travis Walford (son) George Edwards (cousin) Torrence Edwards (cousin) Omar Broadbelt (friend) Donavan Hubson (cousin) Hadrian Saunders (cousin)