We wake up, get work, go back home and rinse and repeat – or at least it feels that way sometimes. In truth, there are a million moments in between where we interact with others and we can’t help but wonder what folks will think about us once we aren’t showing up, perhaps once we are gone. Some very thoughtful members of the community share their thoughts on this with us below.
Michele Barard
One of my favorite stories is one my father told me. My mom’s family is from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and we’d visit often when I was little. On one trip, we stopped at a local store before heading to the beach. I must’ve been about two or three years old. As my dad told it, I wandered off—just disappeared into the store. Read more>>
Lorene Bromfield
The story I hope people will tell about me when I am gone is that I loved life, my family, and the Lord. That I spent my time well by helping and encouraging others, believing and trusting in Gods word and that I loved to travel and experience other cultures and that I was a disciple for the Lord! Read more>>
Dana Rice
When I am gone, I hope the story people tell about me is really about them. My goal here is to get people to dream big dreams and be about the business of making those big dreams reality. Read more>>
Kadé Hill
I hope the story people tell about me when I’m gone is that I lived with purpose, faith, and love. That I poured myself into my family, my work, and my community in a way that left people better than I found them. Read more>>
Kevin R Davis
I hope that I will be remembered as someone who really tried to be a positive influence and who showed others that it is never too late, and things are never too dire, to turn things around and have the life that you’ve always dreamed of. Read more>>
Gayla Smith
*I hope people say I was real with them. That I loved hard, stood up for myself, and showed up for the people who mattered. That I wasn’t perfect, but I cared deeply and left them feeling better than when I found them.* Read more>>
Shayla Maddox
I hope people say I was someone who brought happiness wherever I went—that I helped them make memories with the people they love. That I brought joy into ordinary moments, turned celebrations into memories, and gave my best to everyone I crossed paths with. More than anything, I want my story to be about kindness that left a mark to the world. Read more>>
Bennie Yavari
hope people say that I lived with integrity — that I stood by my principles even when it wasn’t easy, and that I always chose honesty over convenience. In my work, integrity has meant doing what’s truly best for my patients, not just what’s fastest or most profitable. Read more>>
Janelle Jones
I hope people say I changed how we think about learning. I challenged the idea that one-size-fits-all education works for every child. I want to be remembered as someone who created space for curiosity, creativity, and cultural relevance in how kids are taught. I hope they say I helped parents feel empowered to take control of their children’s education. Read more>>
Tamara M. Allen, MSML
When everything is said and done, I hope people do not just talk about my accomplishments, my work, or my titles. I hope they talk about my heart. I want the story of my life to be rooted in how I showed up for people — how I listened, how I cared, how I gave, and how I loved. Read more>>
Susan Robinson
I hope people say that I showed up for others with love, purpose, and unwavering strength. That I created space for women. Especially women of color, to feel seen, heard, and supported. That I lived with intention, poured into my community, and left behind more compassion, healing, and hope than I found. Read more>>
Haadiyah Flagg
I hope people say, “She helped people heal—inside and out.” That I made others feel seen, loved, and empowered to be their full, authentic selves. That I used my voice, my story, and my gifts to pour into others and break cycles—not just for my family, but for my community too. Read more>>
