Another Star Rests In Heaven

“Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.” ~ Maya Angelou

There are some folks who definitely live for being the rainbow in another's cloud. They don't have to be in your presence long for you understand who they are. It could be as brief as a split second. A minute. An hour. You know someone like that, right? Perhaps a few.

There was a young man I met who fit this description perfectly. His smile and spirit were truly a rainbow on a very cloudy day. His name? Demetrist K. Ivery. But he was known as Mechie to most folks.

It was April of 2017, the homegoing celebration in San Diego, California, of my nephew Cherkeiray, who'd been shot and killed at the young age of 23. It was a devastating period for all of us. This was no different for Mechie. He and Cherkeiray were the best of friends. They were family. More so than most who are related by blood.

It was quite evident from the start that he was on a mission. He was going to make this a true celebration of life.

As the member of the choir, he sang joyfully. Singing the gospel was obviously his passion. As the lead singer, he poured all of his emotion into the song to send Cherkeiray home the right way.

Then, Mechie read words, written in the first person, which vividly captured the spirit of my nephew. His humor. His eccentricity. His craziness. It began like this:

On May 28, 1993, I popped up on the scene and my family hasn't been the same ever since. I definitely have kept them on their toes. It's crazy that I came out 10 months after my great-grandfather passed, but I was born on his birthday, born royalty... ya dig!

For most people reading these words, they might not have had the same effect as they were meant to have. But as Mechie read the entire piece, they were magical. He breathed life into them. It was as if he ceased being Mechie. He was my nephew, Cherkeiray. At times, he made us smile. Sometimes, he made burst into laughter.

It was truly a celebration of a life that ended all too soon. Yet, he wanted us to remember Cherkeiray as he lived. With that, he was able to pry us out of our sadness, even if for only a while. He ended with a powerful climax:

I was given the gift of life and now I have to give it back. This is hard, but I was one blessed dude who had a turnt up life and I want all of you to continue to turn up in my honor.

See you next time.

Eventually, the sadness returned as we all reached the point when it was time to say our final farewell to my nephew. I don't believe I'd cried so many tears since my grandfather.passed away. That was the ironies of all ironies.

As I made my way to the limousines waiting to take us to the cemetery, I noticed Mechie sitting in a seat off to the side sanctuary. He was wiping the perspiration from his forehead. I found myself drawn to him.

“Hey,” I said as I stuck out my hand, “you were so great.”

I thanked him for the gift he'd given us. He expressed what I could only describe as gratitude for being able to serve. And that was pretty much the sum of our chat.

And it would be our last.

Earlier this month, I learned Mechie passed away shortly after suffering a seizure. He was just a few months shy of his 22nd birthday.

This week, there will be a celebration of his life. Although it was also too short, it was obvious he'd packed so much in the years he lived.

Often we ask why good people have to leave this world so soon. Only God can truly answer this. But I have a theory. Perhaps their star shines so bright that they belong in one place. In Heaven.

Mechie and Cherkeiray are indeed together again. Sooner than any of us thought.

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Lawrence is an author and contributor to the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. He’s also a member of Toastmasters International. He’s lived in interesting places, including over 6 years in Germany. Click here to read more from him at HuffPost, or visit LawrenceElliott.com.