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.
Justin Patton
When I’m gone, I hope that people know I tried my best to bring joy and value to every space I occupied at all times. I hope stories are told of a passionate individual who gave everything he had to what he loved whether that be his craft, his work, or his people. Read more>>
KwaShonne
I’ll tell you the story I know they’ll be telling. KwaShonne was a great man who built an empire for his family and showed love in every room he stepped into. Everything I’m building is bigger than me — it’s for those coming after me. I’m carrying the torch my ancestors lit, knowing they sacrificed so I could have opportunities they never did. Read more>>
Joya King
When I’m gone, I hope I’m remembered for my authenticity—for showing up as myself in everything I did. I’m building an empire with purpose and passion, and my greatest hope is that the story behind it—the journey, the lessons, the resilience—lasts far beyond my time on this earth. Read more>>
Jonathan Leon
I hope people say that I showed up with love, that I cared about people, and that I tried to make things better than I found them. I want my sons to remember me as a dad who believed in them and pushed them to dream big. Read more>>
Tamara Evans
When I’m gone, I hope people tell the story of a woman who lived fully, loved deeply, and traveled widely. Travel has always been my passion—it taught me about the world, about others, and most importantly, about myself. I want people to remember the joy I found in exploring new places and how I shared that joy with others. Read more>>
Teshika Burnside
I hope people say, ‘She made everyone feel celebrated.’ That I wasn’t just a planner who created beautiful events, but a person who made you feel seen, valued, and cared for—whether you were my client, a guest, or a stranger sitting next to me at brunch. I want my story to be about more than the parties I planned. Read more>>
Chrissi Elle
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that I gave people the courage to keep going, even when life tried to convince them to stop. That I was the kind of person who could walk into a room and make people feel taller, stronger, and more capable of becoming who they were meant to be. Read more>>
Zackeshia Brimidge
When people remember me, I hope they think of a mother who always put her kids first, creating a home filled with love, laughter, and warmth. I want them to remember me as someone who valued family and friendships deeply, with a heart that was always open and ready to give. I’ve always strived to spread positivity, unity, and love in everything I do. Read more>>
Faven Ressom
Someone once told me to work on my eulogy résumé just as much as my professional one, and that’s always stayed with me. I hope people say I lived with purpose, that I gave as much as I received, and that I poured into others the way my mother and brother taught me through their example of philanthropy. Read more>>
Dï Thomas
I hope people say I lived with my heart wide open and used my art to make others feel seen and inspired. That I turned my struggles into light for others and built bridges where there were walls. More than anything, I hope they remember me as someone who gave more than I took, and whose presence encouraged others to believe in their own voice. Read more>>
Money Way Vegas
That no matter what he did it his way and he helped so many people along the way. He paved a way for people with no hope to have all the hope in the world made their dreams come true the same way he did his own and never treated people differently everybody got the same love and respect no matter what. Read more>>
Meeko Clavell
That I was a legend that I was a person who stood up for civil rights Queer rights. Herbal & Spiritual Health. That my music healed and not destroyed the minority communities that are so affected daily. That I was a beacon of hope for young black queer people across the globe. And inspiration to all but most importantly the LGBTQ+ community. Read more>>
Shardae Bennett
That I was a writer/advocate of victory. In 2018 I had a stroke and lost my ability to speak a 100% and walk at a 100%. But knowing that I was told that diagnosis was final. I decided to be intentional with the rest of my life. I decided to create the things I couldn’t find to help the kids and families that needed them. Read more>>
Renata Brown
As I grow older, I find myself thinking about this more often—maybe more than I should. Working in media has given me the rare privilege of meeting and interviewing iconic individuals whose legacies have shaped culture. I met Malcolm-Jamal Warner just this past November at an intimate event where he was performing. I still have the photo and video on my phone. Read more>>
William Ellis
How kind and generous I was life is too short not to be. Read more>>
