MEMORIAL PRAYER SERVICE FOR
MICHELLE PATRICE BUTLER
BORN: April 26, 1960
DIED: April 6, 2020
AGED: 59
HELD AT: ST. ANSELM ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Bernard Road FOX HILL, N.P., Commonwealth Of The Bahamas
Saturday, 5th April 2025 at 6:30p.m.
OFFICIATING:
Fr. Noel Clarke
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Obituary
On the morning of April 26, 1960 in the community of Fox Hill, James and Sheila Rolle welcomed a bouncing baby girl into this world. They named her Michelle Patrice. The name Michelle means “Who is like God’ or “Gift from God”. Perhaps at the time, they knew then what we have all come to know, that Michelle truly was a Gift from God to everyone she would meet.
Michelle grew up on Rose Street, Fox Hill. It was a tight knit community where everyone knew each other. Urcil and Uncle Carl Fritz, Ms. Lucy, Steve & Julia and their children
Charmaine and Mark Stevens, and Mr. Roy were neighbors she enjoyed visiting with and played instrumental roles in her upbringing. The Bethells, Mr. Moss and Joyce (across from her mother) and Sam Ferguson and Family down the road were neighbors she spoke about frequently.
She was so proud to be from Fox Hill that even her email account substantiated that fact! She was Sweet_FoxHillGal. She loved and spoke frequently about growing up in Fox Hill. She enjoyed climbing the trees in their yard to get dillies and mangoes with her younger brother Adrian! She looked forward to the annual Fox Hill and Emancipation Day Holidays. In her youth, Michelle was an active member of the Fox Hill community. She was responsible for teaching the young girls in the community to plait the Maypole every Fox Hill Day.
HER EDUCATION
As a child, Michelle received her early childhood education at St. Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Palmdale. Her Mother Sheila ensured that she had a busy schedule. In addition to attending primary school, she attended music school where she learned to play the piano. She also attended dance school under the tutelage of the late Shirley Hall-Bass. It was here that she developed her future passion for Dancing. Her Mother, Sheila allowed her to travel throughout the U.S.A. with the Shirley Hall-Bass Dance troupe. Michelle would often brag about her dancing for the Mayor of Chicago as a child and playing the piano for Stevie Wonder!
Upon her graduation from St. Thomas More, she would move on to THE Government High School
where she completed her secondary education in 1977. Some of her most notable accolades include her runner up placement in the Miss Government High School Pageant, the fun-filled choreography sessions that she led with her friends and her stellar swimming performances. It was at Government High School that Michelle grew into a young lady and built her network of lifelong friends. After her graduation, she decided to further her education by pursuing a degree in banking and economics; this led her to enroll at the then College of the Bahamas (COB) where she attained her Associates Degree in Banking and Economics in 1979. In the spring of 1980 Michelle went to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Economics at the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota, USA. She graduated with Honors and returned home in 1981 to begin a successful career in banking.
HER CAREER
After high school, Michelle worked at the Bahamian Review Magazine, which was a leading publication then, as it provided the weekly television programming listings. Michelle’s job took her frequently to Florida and she often talked about the wonderful times she had then; she would stay at the best hotels; see the best shows (She saw James Brown in concert at her hotel) and eat in the finest restaurants! After graduating from university, Michelle began her career at BARFINCORP, the mortgage arm of Barclays Bank PLC. Later on she joined Commonwealth Bank where she was in charge of the tellers and cash for the East Bay Street Branch. She developed all of the policies and procedures for this area. At that time, the bank was an upstart bank, and they were trying to attract the best talent to help them grow. Michelle remained with Commonwealth Bank until her entrepreneurial spirit called her.
Following in the footsteps of her Father, James Rolle, in 1991 she started a small children’s boutique called Tickle Me! Tackle Me! This business would become the leading supplier of high-end children’s clothing for many successful Bahamian women who adorned their kids in Michelle’s elegant and trendy statement ensembles. Michelle enjoyed travelling throughout the United States searching for the best-looking children’s clothing to dress her two young children in as well as to stock her store. Many of her young customers then have grown into adulthood and remember dressing in a beautiful Tickle Me Tackle Me outfit!
Later on Michelle would return to the workforce as a Staff Accountant at Ernst & Young Chartered Accountants prior to joining FT Consultants, a large liquidation firm which spun off from Ernst & Young. In 2008 she joined Family Guardian
Insurance. It was here that her incredible leadership skills were allowed to foster and grow from strength to strength. Michelle led team of 40 plus staff. She had to travel frequently to the Family Islands in the course of her job. She was a friend, teacher, colleague and mentor to everyone around her. She would plan her quarterly team meetings with great detail and thoughtfulness to ensure that her meetings would be productive and her team would be motivated to put forth their best all the time.
In 2016, after a decade of service to Family Guardian, Michelle decided that she needed a career change and so she resigned to become CEO of Family BUTLER, a role she excelled in up to her untimely departure.
HER HUSBAND
It was during the summer of her final year at COB that she came to visit her elder sister Doreen at Royal Bank of Canada International in the Beaumont House on Bay Street. As she arrived at the reception desk, she caught the attention of a young man who was working there as a summer student. Upon seeing her, his first thoughts were “Who is this amazing looking woman?” Little did either of them know that this first sighting would become the incredible journey of a lifetime and he would become her husband one day. He was Anthony Butler.
After further inquiring as to who she was, he discovered that she was one of Anthony’s coworkers, Doreen Rolle’s baby sister and he immediately asked Doreen how he could see her again. Doreen arranged for him to meet her at a party at the home of Ashley and Rena Cargill. When they met again, it would be instant mutual attraction. They
had so much in common. They loved enjoying life; they loved to dress and look sharp; and they both loved to dance. They were both interested in furthering their education and they discussed how best to do this.
Michelle and Anthony continued dating throughout their college years. Anthony returned home from college in Canada and had recently passed his Certified Public Accountant Exams. They decided that they had dated long enough. On August 3, 1985 they were joined in Holy Matrimony by Fr. Patrick Holmes at St. Anselm’s Roman Catholic Church in Fox Hill. It was a glorious wedding ceremony and their marriage would begin. Michelle told Anthony then that she wanted a SACRAMENTAL MARRIAGE. That would become his life’s purpose.
HER JEWELS
In April of 1986, Anthony and Michelle welcomed their first child Anthia Janae into the world. Their second child, Anthony Jamaal joined Anthia in July of 1988.
Michelle continued raising and growing her family. In 1992 Ashley Jade joined the family and in 1995 Ashton Jyles was welcomed into the world. She made sure that each of them was showered with Love, Attention and Knowledge. She ensured that they attended church regularly and knew everything they
could about God. She made them memorize the Books of the Bible and recite them to her!
Education was THE priority for her children and she made sure that each of her four children received an excellent education. They attended the best schools in The Bahamas beginning with the International Pre-school, Totland Christian Center, Gleniston Center for Learning, Xaviers Lower School, St. Augustine’s College and St. Andrews School. Later, she would allow Ashley and Ashton to leave The Bahamas to attend The Bolles School, a prestigious boarding school in Jacksonville, Florida. Upon completion of high school, each of her children would receive the finest college education. Anthia graduated from University of Western Ontario in 2007; Jamaal from Texas Tech University in 2009; Ashley from Florida State University in 2014 and Ashton (also from Florida State University) in 2018. Michelle proudly attended every graduation and brought both the grandparents and siblings to each ceremony. She was proud of her children’s accomplishments and they never disappointed her. They excelled at everything they did and this brought her great joy. There was NO Mom who was more faithful and dedicated to her children and Family like Michelle.
Michelle always made sure her children had the best healthcare and never missed a doctor’s appointment. She decided that her children needed a balanced and healthy lifestyle; this included sports and early
in each of their lives, she placed each of them in a different sporting activity. Anthia began in ballet, gymnastics and tap dancing; Jamaal began in gymnastics. As Michelle’s mom Sheila had allowed Michelle to travel to the USA as a child to perform, Michelle now allowed her two children to travel as well to perform with the Bahamas Dance Theatre/Sammy Dyer School of Dance Cultural Exchange Program under the tutelage of the late Shirley Hall-Bass.
When the children were young, Michelle hosted numerous children’s events including everyone’s favorite annual Halloween Party, Birthday Parties, Christmas Parties, Bingo Nights with 50 cent buy-ins and Saturday Souse Days to name a few. Michelle always found a reason to celebrate and host family and friends.
In addition to her own children, she became Mother to every one of her children’s friends. The Butler Homestead was THE place where every kid wanted to come and stay. Michelle made sure that the children had the latest video games to play; the latest Disney Movies to watch; and of course, the best foods to eat. Cimonne Lunn-Davis, Javari Southard and Jeffrey Rodgers and Blair Major were always allowed to sleepover at the homestead which was appropriately named L’Oiseau D’Amour, French for Love Birds, later to be changed to “La Familia”, Spanish for Family.
HER FAMILY
Michelle had an excellent Mother/Daughter relationship with her Mother Sheila. She took great pride in taking care of her Mother while learning how to be a great Mother herself. She made sure that
her Mother accompanied her on Family trips. She would stop by her Mother after Church every Sunday to check on her and show her how beautifully she and her husband were dressed and coordinated. She would often take her Mother on drives where they would go and purchase ice cream which was one of her Mom’s favorite treats! When her Mom fell ill in 2018, it took a great toll on Michelle. She did everything within her power to assist in her Mom’s recovery. Unfortunately God had other plans for her mother. Michelle missed her deeply after her passing. Michelle made sure that her Mother’s grave was one of the most beautifully decorated graves in St. Anselm’s Cemetery, a testament to the love she had for her Mother and desire to honor her legacy.
Her father James was a well-known and respected businessman who founded the Garden of Eden in Fox Hill. He also had several businesses including Rolle’s Auto Parts.
Michelle was the fourth of five children to James and Sheila, alongside Theodore “Ted” (deceased), Doreen, Bernadette “Bernie” and Adrian Rolle (deceased).
ATHLETICS- TRACK, SWIMMING AND BASEBALL
As the children grew and performed, Michelle enrolled them in additional sporting disciplines beginning with Swimming. She often said that with all of this water around us, her children had to know how to swim. Her words were truly prophetic because in 2004 at the tender age of 12, Ashley became a swimming sensation and represented the Bahamas at her first Carifta Swimming
Championships held in New Providence of the same year! Michelle was selected as the Team Chaperone that year! And so began her Carifta Journey! Meanwhile, Jamaal’s excellence in all sports he played opened additional sporting opportunities for her. Michelle would NEVER MISS any of her children’s sporting events! Jamaal would make her so proud when in 2005 he became the BAISS 200M and 400M champion and began receiving scholarship offers to top US colleges. That year Jamaal would also represent the Bahamas at his first Carifta Track and Field Championships in Trinidad & Tobago. Tony would accompany Jamaal to Trinidad for the Carifta Track and Field Championship and Michelle accompanied Ashley to Curacao for Carifta Swimming Championship! Michelle’s hosting of parties at the various Cariftas and her world famous cooking made her hotel room a destination of everyone who accompanied us on those Carifta sojourns!
Chris Saunders and several of the other Carifta News Media personalities always made sure they knew where Michelle was staying. Additionally, the JBLN family became her family and she was a regular attendee at every baseball game held on the weekends at the baseball field at St. Andrews where she cheered on and encouraged Ashton with his baseball exploits. Everyone knew that she was the mother of the best baseball player in his age group at JBLN.
FRIENDS AND ENTERTAINING
In her role as CEO of BUTLER Family, Michelle executed numerous projects including the complete remodeling of the family homestead in Sandilands Village. Michelle excelled at
entertaining. Her love for people and her Family were only exceeded by her love for her God. She was a faithful servant of God and an excellent Steward of the many gifts he endowed her with. Michelle taught us all how to LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE.
Everyone knew Michelle’s love and passion for entertaining friends and family from near and far! She was a fantastic cook and her Bahamian Fruit Punch Drink was legendary! In the early days of her marriage, she would wake up at 6am on Saturday mornings and prepare two large pots of chicken souse and pig feet souse and invite everyone over to come and get some. By Noon all would be gone! Little did we know at the time, that she was practicing for what would eventually become her “Brunchin’ with The Butlers!” She started the “Brunchin’ with The Butlers” in 2019 which became a must attend event every Saturday morning from 10am until! Michelle excelled at entertaining. If you were privileged to attend, you knew her house rules….she would serve you on your first visit but thereafter, you would help yourself!
Everyone knew that when she started “ringing the Bell” that meant the food was ready and libations were flowing. Every meal began with a prayer. Michelle also started our annual Secret Santa held every Christmas; she started the family Birthday Club event which allowed everyone to experience the joy of celebraiiting another birthday!
JUNKANOO
Michelle loved Junkanoo and always proudly declared
herself a Valley Girl! When Anthia was only eight years old, Michelle registered her as a Valley Girl Junior Choreographer Dancer. She made sure each year that Anthia attended every practice session and would be one of the first junior girl dancers to receive her costume in time for Boxing Day Junkanoo. Her alliance with the Valley would change however whenever her son Jamaal was rushing by on Bay Street! He too started Junkanoo at an early age under the watchful tutelage of Percy Vola Francis and his Uncle Adrian “Ja Purple” Rolle. He was a Saxons and would later become a leader in the Saxons Bellers group. Michelle would attend every Saxons practice and made sure a cool refreshing cup of her legendary punch was available to the group at the end of the night. When the Saxons came through on Bay Street on Boxing Day or New Year’s morning, as soon as she saw Jamaal, her heart would race and she would begin dancing to the beat and cheering for Jamaal and for the Saxons! She would always be seated in the front row in Rawson Square every Junkanoo parade and was often interviewed on ZNS Television by her good friend Vaughn Albury of ZNS.
RETURN TO HEAVEN
On April 4, 2020 she was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital after her blood glucose level elevated to high levels. We thought she would be given insulin and returned home to us that evening. Unfortunately, God had other plans for her. The “Gift” that he had given to us for 59 years had emptied her earthen vessel of all that she was purposed to give and pour out in love and service.
He had more important work for her to do in Heaven. At 12:30pm on Monday, April 6, 2020, Michelle returned to her Heavenly home to be with her God, her Lord and her Savior! She smiled as the Angels welcomed her into HIS Kingdom to be with her Mother Sheila and brother Adrian. She will be missed, but her legacy will live on forever. She has left us cherished memories of Her Smile, Her Laughter, Her Gentleness, Her Kindness, Her Intellect, Her Passion for Living and most importantly HER FAITH.
Rest in Peace Michelle along with the Souls of the other Faithfully Departed.
At the time of her passing, Michelle was survived by her
Husband: Anthony Joseph Butler; Children: Anthia Ja-Nae, Anthony Jamaal, Ashley Jade and Ashton Jyles Butler; Sisters: Doreen Rolle (Salu Lobo); Bernadette Rolle-Major; Thomasine “Ida” Wilson; Deborah Dillet (Foster); Pauline Dawkins (Eric); Dr. Bridgette and Dr. Sophia Rolle; Brothers: Theodore Rolle; Lendevenchi “Lenny” Rolle; In-Laws: Dayrrl Butler (Marva); Emily Lockhart (Milford); Christine Butler; Jerry Butler (Georgette); Louis Butler Jr. (Angela); Chavazze Turnquest; Aunts: Elder Delores Davis-Knowles; Theresa Sampson; Patricia Nixon; Beverley Evans; Uncles: Bishop Frederick Newchurch (Maryann); Kenneth Herrious Sr.; Wendell and Alvin Johnson; Nieces: Asia Rolle; Krystal and Keri Dillet; Avrey Wilson; Holli and Paige Dawkins; Eboni Adderley; Kazia and Kristen Rolle; Kiyata Branker; Dawn Butler; Darlene Thompson; Alysa Butler; Asia Butler; Kristen Bunch; Antonia Ferguson; Selena Liriano; Nephews: Blair Major; Kyle Dillet; Asean Wilson; Eric Dawkins Jr.; Sy Laroda; Dane, Marc (Christy) and Dayrrl “Dale” Butler Jr.; Emile and Elwin Lockhart; Jerry Butler Jr.; Jamal Miller and Alexander Butler; Grand Nieces and Nephews: Aleya Thompson; Courtney Miller; Marcus Butler; Cousins: Bridgette Smith (Glen); Dwight Newchurch of Freeport, Grand Bahama (Yvette), Pastor Audric Newchurch of McDonough, Georgia (Pastor Geraldine), Pastor Da’Niel Marble of Prairie, Mississippi (Rommie), Nicova Jones of Jonesboro, Georgia (Carlton) and Jodie Burrows of Freeport, Grand Bahama; Shane Newchurch (Gaynell); Glenn Herrious of New York; Valerie Curling of New York, Tracey Clemons of Washington DC, Neville and Keith Sampson of New York and California; Barbara Brown (Victor), Phoebe King, Joey, Wendy, Philip, Philippa and Darryl Nixon; Birgitha Moxey (James), Baldwin (Angela) and Brent Evans (Milly); Akema Johnson; Jevon Saunders of Florida (Erin); Rod Johnson of Florida; Kermit, Keith, Della & Ricardo Rolle; Extended Family: Ursil and Jermaine Fritz and Family; Joann Fritz-Creary and Family; Michelle and Daisy Bowleg and family of Nicholl’s Town, Andros; Sandra Olander (Wellington) and family; Beverly Edwards of Atlanta Georgia; Ella Mae Flemming (Clarence) and family of Vero Beach; Nathalie Comas (Ted) and family of Baltimore; Aaron, Chester, Tara and Anjelica Gonzalez of New York; Linda Bain-Miller, Nathalie Bain-Hall, Angela Bain-Rolle, Tyrone Bain of New York, Samuel, Nathaniel, Willie, Gary and Stephanie Bain; Judy Dawkins and family; Cassine Grant-Kinnear and family; Rhodriguez King and family; Ivan King and family; Clarenda King and family; Hubert Ferguson of Deltona Beach, Florida; Wilma DavisMarshall and Family; Gloria Briggs and Family of New Jersey;
Godchildren: Kristy Kemp; Simone Sweeting-Smith; Tariq Kelly; Bernique Pople; Warnika Brown; Jenae Fritz; Whitney Demeritte; Lifelong Friends: Susan Bain and Family; Alma and Everette Sweeting and Family; Donna Grant and Family; Lambert Longley and Family; Stuart and Allison Kelly and Family; Beverley, Shelly, Karen, Peggy, Perry and Terry Archer; Wayne and Marion Edgecombe and Family; Debbie Williams and Cyndi Williams-Rahming; Kenneth Culmer and Family of Eleuthera; Danny Knowles and Family; Hope Shelly-Ann Sawyer-Ratcliffe and Family; Debra Rolle and Family; Betty Moss and Family; Sandra Gibson and Family; Nicola “Nicki” Dawkins and Family; David and Tonia Maynard and Family; Obi Pindling and Family; Vaughn Albury and Family; Judy Davis and Family; Jay Sargeant and Family; Jackie and Vianney Joannette of Quebec; Michelle and Gary Lightbourne and Family of Tampa; Mark and Robyn Sieron of Jacksonville; Other relatives and friends: Herman and Lillian Perry of Daytona Beach; Carol and Willie Smith of Atlanta; Kim and Mona Barr of Atlanta; Charles (Chucky) Barr of Miami; Barbara Ferguson, Patricia Knowles, Claudine Stubbs (Jerry), Tyrone (Sharon), Deon and Anthony Miller;
Godwin and Michelle Cargill and Family, Maria Butler and Family; Hubert and Roxanne Chipman and Family; Joseph and Terez Curry and Family; Clarence Ferguson and family; Essie Ferguson & family; Lydia Ferguson and Family; Marcia and Brian Gibson and Family; Dwight and Jacinta Higgs and Family; Effie Higgs and Family; Kerry Higgs and Family; Veronica Hutchinson and Family; Sheila Knowles and Family; Sheldon Maycock and Family; Yolanda Miller and Family; Edgar and Remilda Moxey and Family; Joy and Michael Smith and Family; Philip and Sharlamae Stubbs and Family; Jerry and Carmelita Treco and Family; Maria Hepburn and Family; Bursil and Deidre Woods and Family; Stanton “Ricky” Chea and Family, Wellington and Patrice Chea and Family; Deanza and Edrice Cunningham and Family; Anthony and Dale Woodside and Family, Roscoe Davis and Family of New Jersey; Kathy Davis-Ingraham and Family; David Rose of Jamaica; Alphena Hall of Jamaica; the Adderley family; the Bailey family; the Edgecombe family; the Morrison family; Dr. Ricky Davis (Sophia); Godfrey Eneas; Jonelle Gardiner; Lisa Sawyer-McCartney; Elaine Major; Caroline Saunders; Nickeil Davis and Family; Vanessa Clarke; Cimonne (Larry) Davis and Family; Kelley (Serge) Ntabona and Family; Alexandria Dames and Family; Candace and Garvin Newball and Family; Tavares Clarke; Jenny and Javari Southard; Jeffrey Rodgers Jr.; Trevino “Gizzy” Thompson and Family; Alicia-Marie Thompson and Family; Anthaya Rolle and Family; Amber and Ariel Weech and Family; Terrell Tinker and Family; Theodore Sweeting Jr. and Family; Deshaun Woods; Bradley Outten and Family; Ashton and Aaron Chandler; the Management
and Staff of Family Guardian; the Management and Staff of Fingertips Beauty Salon; the Management and Staff of Rolle’s Auto Parts; The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAAs); Algernon Cargill and the Bahamas Swimming Federation (BSF); the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN); David and Laura Charlton and the Star Trackers Club; the Shell Saxons Superstars; THE Government High School (GHS) Class of 1977; the St. Augustine’s College Classes of 1977, 2003 and 2005; the Bolles School Classes of 2010 and 2014; the Pilot Club of Nassau; Dr. Anita Brown and Family; Dr. Don Deveaux and Dr. Neil Parker and the Management and Staff of Oaktree Medical; Dr. Luis Del Pozo; Dr. Charles Osazuwa and the Management and Staff of Seagrapes Medical Center; Dr. John Rodgers and the Management and Staff of Bahamas Vision Center; the Doctors and Nurses of Doctor’s Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital; The Hon. Hubert Minnis and Family; The Hon. Phillip Brave Davis and Family; The Hon. Fred Mitchell; The Most Reverend Patrick Pinder; Fr. Noel Clarke, Deacon Ricardo Demeritte, Fr. Junior Calixte, the pastoral office of St. Anselm’s Catholic Church and its members and the entire Fox Hill Community.
Michelle had so many family members and friends, that we may have inadvertently left your name out, and if so, we do humbly apologize. Please keep us in continued prayer.
Order of Service
GREETING
OPENING HYMN | “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!” Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
OPENING PRAYER
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING | Romans 8:18-23
RESPONSE | Psalm 42 “As the Deer”
As the deer pants for the water, So my soul longs after Thee. You alone are my heart’s desire And I long to worship Thee.
Refrain:
You alone are my strength, my shield, To You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart’s desire And I long to worship You.
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
I want You more than gold or silver, Only You can satisfy. You alone are the real joy-giver And the apple of my eye.
You’re my Friend and You are my brother, Even though You are a King.
I love You more than any other, So much more than anything.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of Endless Glory
(Please Stand)
GOSPEL | John 14:1- 6
HOMILY: (Please be seated)
MUSICAL SELECTION | Dion Cunningham (Friend of the Family)
INTERCESSIONS | (Anthia, Jamaal, Ashley and Ashton Butler)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
AS I KNEW HER | Doreen Rolle (Sister)
AS I KNEW HER | Shelly Archer (Friend)
MUSICAL SELECTION | Nycholas Hanna (Musician)
AS I KNEW HER | Alma Sweeting (Friend)
AS I KNEW HER | Kerri Higgs(Friend & Colleague)
“A LETTER TO TONY” | Georgette Dahl-Butler(Sister-in-Law)
“A MOTHER’S PRAYER” | Stanesha Deligence (Soloist)
CLOSING PRAYER
CONCLUDING RITE
CLOSING HYMN | “Blessed Assurance”
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
MICHELLE
You were MY Chelle. My Belle. My Wife. My Best Friend. Mother to the Awesome Foursome.
You were everything to me and now I’m left all alone to travel where we both planned to travel together. God knows best.
April 6, 2020; the day that you left us without saying goodbye.
April 6, 2025; five years later. Seems like yesterday. My dark skin beauty.
Your gorgeous smile.
Your sweet, warm and inviting personality. Your laughter and warm embrace. My dancing Queen.
My confident and all wise and knowing spiritual adviser.
You didn’t see it coming either. Blindsided. But God knows Best.
All that I have left is what you’ve given me in each of our four children and the many memories of our time spent together.
The house is not a home anymore. The bed now feels like an ocean. I feel so incomplete now.
I understand now why God made Eve. I understand now why God loaned you to me. You were exactly what and who I needed.
And you still are. I think of what you would have said or done in everything that I do.
I hope I am making you proud trying to fill in the huge void you left behind.
Until we meet again…MY Chelle.
All my love,
Tony (Husband)
A JOURNAL ENTRY ENTITLED “I WANT MY MOMMY”
“I WANT MY MOMMY!” My shrilling scream for the past 48 hours, and when my breath escapes me, it becomes a quiet and constant murmur on my tongue.
I want my Mommy because she was the first and most beautiful person I ever laid eyes on. I would gaze upon her beauty and feel empowered by her stateliness. Her eyes were like doves and spoke far louder than her tender and soft voice.
I want my Mommy because that tender and soft voice was as soothing as honey. I need that sweet calming voice to speak over me right now and assure me that things will be ok.
I want my Mommy because my Daddy needs her. Never have I met anyone with such childlike faith as he carries. He now spends his days wrapping his arms around the four of us together, holding us so tight, quieting our screams and bringing our shaking under control. We nod in agreement as he assures us of how loving our God is, and that His love is everlasting. We in turn take our arms and wrap them around him, but I know how desperately he yearns the warmth of her embrace.
I want my Mommy because she was my hero. She did not write dissertations, lead movements, or impact global change but her life’s work and purpose was sacrificing herself to raise children that would. She mobilized an army, and our unit has lost its general. She would never label her service to us a sacrifice, but simply an honor, a pleasure and her heart’s greatest desire to obey what she knew was God’s instruction to her.
I want my Mommy because I feel too broken to pick up her mantle of hospitality. Like my Grammy, she shared the beautiful, God-given gift of joy through service. Her passion was to build a gorgeous and
inviting homestead that would welcome many over the course of her life. Our friends became her extended children, and her and Daddy’s friends became her brothers and sisters. She loved you all so much. If only I could see her face light up again as people trickle into the house and she says with her dainty voice, “Today we have a variety of food and beverages all to your liking.”
I want my Mommy because each day I look in the mirror, I see a face that so uncannily resembles hers. Then I think of her being beyond the mirror and eternally imprinted on my heart where her voice, her touch, her smell and her love all reside now.
I want my Mommy because I would draw from her strength right now. I have seen her endure and pull through so much. She would candidly share her hardships with me and say to me, “Tia that hurt me so bad, but I serve a good God and I thank Him.” She fought for everything. She fought through everything.
I want my Mommy because I now want to fight for her, yet I am reminded of scripture; “Not by power, not by might but by your Spirit, Lord.”
I want my Mommy because I love my Mommy, with every part of me. I want my Mommy because when it’s all said and done, I don’t know how to live without her.
With love, Anthia “Tia” (Daughter) © 2020
With love JAMAAL
TO MY MAMA BEAR:
Five years have passed since you left us, but the love and wisdom you shared continues to live on in our family. In every gentle memory, in every lesson you taught me, your presence is felt.
Though time has moved on, the void you left behind is irreplaceable. Still, I find strength in the values you instilled in me—the resilience to face challenges with grace, the importance of compassion, and the power of love and family.
As I honor your memory today, I hold onto the beautiful moments we shared, your laugh, the quiet conversations, and the endless comfort of knowing you are forever present in spirit. Thank you for shaping me into the woman and mother I am today.
I will always miss you, but I know that you live on in my heart, through your grandson’s heart and all the hearts of those you touched.
Continue to Rest in peace, Mommy. Forever loved, forever remembered.
With Love, Ashley (Daughter)
A TRIBUTE TO MY MOMMY
To my One & Only,
The one who groomed me into the man I am today. The one who gave me the privilege of life and so many blessings that came with it. There’s so many days I think about you and miss you, but there’s so much happiness in knowing the mother you were from the love you gave. I love you, and I miss you so much, Mommy!
Your true baby, Ashton (Son)
Founded in 2022 in loving memory of the late Michelle Patrice Butler (April 6, 2020), the Michelle P. Butler Scholarship Foundation was established to honor her enduring spirit and commitment to education. Rooted in the three pillars of Love, Legacy, and Learning, the foundation reflects the fundamental beliefs that Michelle embodied throughout her life.
Since its inception, the foundation has proudly awarded annual merit-based scholarships to three deserving students from Michelle’s alma mater, St. Thomas More School. Through the generosity of our supporters, we have been able to invest in the future of young minds, ensuring that Michelle’s legacy of excellence and opportunity lives on.
With your continued support and kind contributions, we look forward to expanding our reach by offering an additional scholarship to a student within the Catholic Primary Schools body. Together, we can make a lasting impact—one student at a time.
For more information on how you can support the Michelle P. Butler Scholarship Foundation, please contact AnthiaButler@hotmail.com (Chairlady).
In love, in legacy, in learning—we honor Michelle.
A TRIBUTE TO MY BABY SISTER
The hardest thing I have ever experienced was when I got the call and Tony said to me, she didn’t make it, I screamed uncontrollably. I did not expect that call because when I saw her that Friday before we were making a joke about the eye complications, we both had one was scleritis and iritis. We always said one was black, and the other was white and laughed about it. I was shocked and could not bring myself to believe what I had just heard. Memories of our childhood flipped through my mind oh so quickly it was like a lightning bolt just hit me. I remember as a child we had our own language and spoke that so no one else was able to understand and we used it when we wanted our surroundings not to know what we were talking about.
I’ve never known grief like I’ve felt over losing my baby sister. Losing my baby brother, now my baby sister has felt like losing myself. I won’t stop loving and thinking about you, because your death is still a shock. All I need is to learn how to live without you since death took you away. Thank you for the beautiful memories and unending love.
My heart still holds you, but my lips say goodbye to you. I miss you so dearly! I remembered the Christmas before, we were at Bernie’s house when we opened gifts, went to church and came back to finish the task which was always a blast. That year, Tony had her name as a secret Santa, and he said it was almost impossible to get her gift as she would not let him off the hook or out of her sight to get her gift.
You will always be in our hearts. I want to appreciate the love you gave, and you will always hold a special place in my heart because you have brought so much love, joy, and happiness and was also a source of inspiration to me and all who you met. You were such a light in the family. But I will continue to cherish the moments we were all together and the memories we created. You will forever be remembered. Though you’re no longer here, your love will forever echo in my heart and the hearts of all. Our hearts are so full of joy, and we are so grateful for all that you did. Rest among the angels, my dear sister. We love you but God loves you best. Love, Doreen (Sister)
A TRIBUTE TO AUNT MICHELLE
Aunt Michelle had a presence that was simply unforgettable. She had a way of bringing life to every room she entered, filling it with warmth, laughter, and love. She never treated me as just her niece she embraced me as one of her own. Her joy was infectious, and she had a special gift for bringing people together, especially when it came to dancing. No gathering was complete without her encouraging everyone to get on their feet and celebrate life. Though she is no longer with us, her spirit lives on in the love she shared and the beautiful memories she left behind. Continue to rest peacefully, Aunt Michelle your light will never fade from our hearts.
All My Love, Asia (Niece)
KING ASHER GRAMMY I love you from
“Love and Legacy BRUNCH
Join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of our beloved Michelle Patrice Butler in the way she enjoyed most—with love, laughter, and good company.
Following Mass, we invite you to a special “Love and Legacy” Brunch in her honor.
DATE: Sunday, April 6, 2025 TIME: 1:00 PM
CONTRIBUTION: $50 per person (Part proceeds will benefit the Michelle P. Butler Scholarship Foundation)
This heartfelt gathering is an opportunity to reflect on Michelle’s impact, support the Michelle P. Butler Scholarship Foundation and continue her legacy of Love and Learning.
We look forward to sharing this special moment with you.
For more details or to RSVP, please contact 817-9569. You’re Invited
