Memorial Folder for the Late Shakira Nicole Roberson

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We the family of

Shakira Nicole Robertson would like to acknowledge all of you who given your love, soothing spirit and prayers during the period of sorrow your support is truly appreciated from the heart.

May God bless each of you. ~The Family~ FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO:

490 Columbia Road, Boston, MA 02125 www.floydawilliamsfuneralhome.com

“HER”STORY 11.25.76, the Sun was eclipsed By a light that will always persist You took form, and your mom, Yvonne named you Shakira Gratitude personified and amplified by her Spirit And with it – grew a miracle child Brown eyes with a smile that could hypnotize A warrior with an aura that could tip the sky And a heart so big we could all fit inside You transferred that smile to all of our faces We saw the Westwood High grad go for the high grab Johnson and Wales, then hair school, you made your list Nothing was off limits because you are limitless Did your modeling thing and turned heads with your presence The whole time, with the presence of a young queen full of essence To stay in the present even when the pain pushed Past And to push pass the Present to see what the Future has So, you married your childhood sweetheart, Charles, in 2002 October wedding in Bermuda on that cliff with the view They told us no children were in our future, but you knew A mother always knows what she is destined to do Sienna, then Maika; miracle one and miracle two Through them, your legacy continues – the seed, the fruit, The flame, the light, cocoon to butterfly You can never be extinguished – you. are. just. too. fly.

And now you’re so high, but you’ll never leave our minds Shakira Nicole Robertson, you are one of a kind And even on the day, the Sun refuses to shine On that day, the Sun may just go blind On that day, the Sun will understand why Shakira Nicole Robertson will always be alive…

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Your life is celebrated, and your legacy is carried on by: Your devoted husband of 22 years, Charles Furman Robertson; your cherished daughters, Sienna Yvonne Robertson and Maika Rae Robertson; grandmother, Veronica Soberanis; mother-in-love, Naomi Robertson; uncles: Ernest (Erika) Soberanis, Carlton Soberanis, and Leo Reyes; brother-in-love, Cedric (Linda) Robertson; sisters-in-love, Etchika (James) Brown and Marika Robertson-Hamilton; nieces, Saige Hamilton and Sydni Hamilton; nephew, Nolan Hamilton; and a host of dear cousins, family friends, and a team of healthcare supporters you met along the way.

“ H E R ” S T O R Y

TRIBUTE TO OUR MOTHER ~ Sienna Robertson & Maika Robertson ~

A TRIBUTE TO MY DAUGHTER-IN-LOVE...

Shakira Nicole Robertson Shakira, Shakira, Shakira my daughter-in-love, Who are you but a gift to me at God sent from above.

I’ve known you from a little child around the age of three; Who would have ever guessed at we would make history. You were born from an angelic mother who loved you with her whole heart.

In the quiet morning light, she’d rise, With gentle hands and loving eyes, She'd draw with me, a world so bright, Filling pages with our shared delight.

She’d make me breakfast, oatmeal with strawberries, A simple meal, just her and me, With each bite, a bond would grow, A mother's love in each warm glow.

She'd send me off to school each day, With words of wisdom, in her own way, A kiss, a hug, a sweet goodbye, Her strength and care, my wings to fly.

She'd do my hair with tender grace, A loving touch, a warm embrace, Each strand a testament so clear, Of love and warmth, year after year.

I’ll miss you, Mom, your guiding light, Your laughter bright, your spirit’s might, But in my heart, you’re always near, Your love, was and is, ever so clear.

I know you’re watching from above, With pride and joy, and endless love, I'll make you proud, in all I do, For every step, I'll think of you.

She loved the Lord and taught you to do the same from the very first start. Your mother fought sickle cell anemia and she won the fight. As our God took her home at the tender age of 21 into His Heavenly Light.

Sickle Cell Anemia fiercely attacked your body from birth until you won the fight; But you’ve known throughout your life who was with you as you fought with all of your might.

Yes, you beat the Doctor ’s odds as you married my son Charles and gave him two beautiful daughters who are both free; Yes, they are free from that wretched disease and will NEVER bow the knee!

Your grandmother Veronica Soberantis told me many stories of how God miraculously delivered you; She was there to help raise you as a child and witnessed your many struggles to make it through.

Though most people only saw your quiet side that you often kept hidden within; Yet, when it came to your two daughters, you covered them like a mother hen.

I love you Shakira with the deepest motherly love; You are more to me than a daughter-in-law, you’ve be like a sweet heavenly dove.

Though we are all here grieving for what we on earth have lost; We believe that you would have us live our Best Life, no matter what the cost!

So, continue your journey my sweet daughter-in-love, As we witness your radiant light that shines from above. Jesus has promised to take us there, So, let us enter into His care.

In Memory of My Sweet Daughter-in-Love Naomi Robertson July 13, 2024

~Maika~

RES

L O V I N G T R I B U T E S

Dear Mom, To be completely honest with you, I held off on writing this letter for so long.

I know that I’m a procrastinator, but that wasn’t what kept me from writing to you.

I miss you more than words can express, and I felt that writing this letter would solidify that you truly aren’t right down the hall from me anymore.

However, your presence constantly surrounds me.

I feel your calming embrace when I get a little nervous when I drive. I feel you next to me in the yellow chair you love whenever I watch a movie in the living room. A memory that replays over and over in my head takes place on the day before our lives changed forever. We were sitting in the living room; you in your yellow chair, me cozy on the bean bag.

We were watching Ponyo, a movie that became my favorite after the first time we ever watched it. I adored the way motherhood was displayed in the movie because it reminded me so much of you. We laughed so hard when Ponyo was asked to describe her goddess of a mother, and she replied: “She’s big and BEEEEAUTIFUL!” We always watch movies together, but I could tell that watching this one with you created a shift in our ever-growing relationship with each other.

On this day which we spent relaxing together, I truly felt like there was nothing more that I would ever want to ask of you. It used to anger me that your Sickle Cell symptoms made certain activities difficult for you.

I knew that someone as loving and kind as you didn’t deserve that.

Your dedication to showing up to my volleyball games despite your crisis pain displayed how strong your love for me is. Your caring, empathetic nature toward me even when I was clearly in the wrong inspires me to be compassionate with the people around me. Your dedication to being the best mother you could be even when it physically hurt to do so motivates me to work harder than I did the day before. Every time someone comes up to me and says,

“You look just like your Mother!”

I feel proud! It’s because you’re my idol. You’re the person I strive to model myself after. Whenever I face challenges, I think about how you would handle pain with grace and a smile on your face, and it prevents me from even thinking about giving up.

I miss you so much. I know I said that I always feel you around me, but I’d give anything to feel you hold me like you would, even while you were in rehab. These little things, which I may have taken for granted, will forever hold a special place in my heart. I want you to know that you are at the forefront of my mind whenever I take the simplest of actions. I will always pursue my dreams.

Your belief in me has given me the courage to aim high and never give up. Even though you are no longer here with me in the flesh, I feel your presence in everything I do. I see glimpses of you in the sun, the shadows, the car, your room, my room, and in myself. It reminds me that your spirit is always with me.

Thank you for being the best mom I could ever ask for. Your love, perseverance, and strength have left a lasting impact on my life. Your memory is kept alive in everything I do. I’ve already spoken to you numerous times in detail about how much I love you, before and after you left this summer.

I’ll write to you every day so that I can eventually fit all of my words on paper. Even then, it still wouldn’t contain all of the love I feel for you.

I Love You, Mommy! ~Sienna ~

L O V I N G T R I B U T E S

ORDER OF SERVICE Pastor Joshua Fulton, Officiating Pastor Dahria Williams-Fernandes, Funeral Director

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS

Ayesha Moore Ernest Soberanis Ebony Johnson Marika Robertson-Hamilton

OPENING PRAYER................................................Pastor Jennifer Hodge

MUSICAL SELECTION...........................Deborah Bullock (Light the Way) Ashmont Hill

WORSHIP.........................................................................Deborah Bullock (My Life Is In Your Hands) Kirk Franklin

SPECIAL TRIBUTE “My Daughter-In-Love…Shakira”

SCRIPTURE READING.................................................. Jade Mills-Little

Naomi Robertson

Psalm 116:1-9;16-19

“HER”STORY .........................................Charles Robertson

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord “Lord, save me!”

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

6 The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. and will NEVER bow the knee!

16 Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord—in your midst, Jerusalem.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION Sickle Cell Moyamoya PRAYER OF COMFORT...................Pastor Joshua Fulton MUSICAL TRIBUTE & MOMENT OF MINDFULNESS (Kanekotsy^-Tha) Joanne Shenandoah

CLOSING REMARKS........................Pastor Joshua Fulton RECESSIONAL

TRIBUTE TO OUR MOTHER Sienna Robertson & Maika Robertson

RES

(Beautiful Things) Benson Boone

O R D E R O F S E R V I C E

L O V I N G M E M O R I E S

Celebrating THE LIFE & THE LEGACY

Shakira Nicole Robertson November 25, 1976 - July 13, 2024

Your memory is my keepsake, with which I’ll never part.

Your light will keep on shining, I have you in my heart.

Save the Date 9/21/24 Join us for the 5K CoffeeRun/Walk Race for Sickle Cell Awareness as we honor the remarkable life of

Shakira Robertson, a beacon of light and love.

Shakira’s enduring spirit and fierce determination in her battle against Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) are an inspiration to all.

She leaves her mark of defying the odds with grace and resilience, motivating everyone around her to push through the toughest of times. Her memory continues to shine brightly in our hearts, and in her honor, we will walk and run to celebrate her incredible legacy.

Let’s come together to remember Shakira and support the cause she fought so valiantly against.

Your participation and support will help spread more awareness about SCD and ensure her light continues to guide and inspire us all.

Designed with Love Filled with Prayers, Hope, and Blessings Throughout Her Legacy