Latest news with #celebrationOfLife
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Celebration of life held for Virginia Beach hiker Taniya Flowers
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A celebration of life was held at Berkely Park in Norfolk in honor of Taniya Flowers, the 25-year-old Virginia Beach woman who died after a hiking accident at Crabtree Falls. Virginia Beach hiker dies after falling off a trail at Crabtree Falls Family and friends all gathered to remember Taniya, who is said to have been a vibrant spirit who touched many lives. 'She was well liked. She smiled a lot. She had a big, humongous smile and she just, she just one of a kind. There is never going to be another Taniya. Beautiful personality. Just beautiful person. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,' said Delisa Clark, Taniya's mother. In her final moments before the hiking accident, family members say Taniya was trying to save a life; an act they say is no surprise. 'One of her friends, I believe, stepped the wrong way and ended up slipping and called out to her. And she just by instinct, her instinct alone, she reached for her, and she ended up falling,' said Delisa. A candlelight vigil, words of remembrance and a balloon release took place at Berkley Park to honor Taniya's live and her sacrifice. When asked if she could say anything to Taniya, her sister Tania expressed how much she misses her. 'I miss you, adore you. You are in my heart, my soul and you're going to live on till I take my last breath,' said Tania Flowers. Those in attendance said though Taniya may not be with them anymore, she'll continue to live on through them. The celebration of life was the first of three gatherings for those who knew Taniya. A visitation is set for June 9, and funeral services are planned for the following day, June 10. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Oconto County crash on May 16 claimed the lives of two drivers, sheriff's office announces
A second man has died as a result of the May 16 crash on U.S. 41 in the town of Little River, the Oconto County Sheriff's Office released May 30. Previously, the sheriff's office said a 64-year-old Oconto man had been killed when his pickup truck turned south onto the highway from County W and was struck from behind by a car driven by a 39-year-old Denmark man, also heading southbound. The Oconto man was identified as Michael LaCourt, who died May 16, while the Denmark man was Allen LaViolette, who died May 20. The sheriff's department's crash report said LaViolette was traveling "at an excessive rate of speed," according to witnesses. After LaCourt attempted to get into the right lane of U.S. 41, LaViolette also veered into the right lane at the same time striking the back of of LaCourt's pickup truck causing it to flip and roll into the median. Both drivers were ejected from their vehicles. LaCourt was pronounced deceased at the scene, while LaViolette was transported to Aurora Medical Center - BayArea in Marinette then to Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay. LaViolette's obituary said he eventually ended up at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. A celebration of life for Michael 'Chico' LaCourt will be held 2 p.m. May 31 at Irish Greens Golf Club & Restaurant, 2946 Logtown Road, Oconto, according to Gallagher Funeral Home. A celebration of life for LaViolette, who was born in Oconto Falls, will be determined at a later date, according to his obituary. 'Chico found happiness in the everyday: a cold beer, a good NASCAR race or ball game on TV, and the company of friends in the garage, swapping stories and sharing laughs,' his obituary said. 'His easygoing nature and generous spirit left a lasting impression on all who knew him.' LaCourt is survived by his wife, Tina LaCourt, his children, Marty LaCourt and Marissa Hogan, and stepchildren, Rachel Janda and Timmy Smith. "Allen's life was a blessing but his memory will be a treasure knowing he was an organ donor and his legacy will live on in so many others," his obituary said. LaViolette is survived by his mother, Chris Anderson; sister, Amanda Antonson; brother, Randy LaViolette; and his children, Quentin, Kira and Westin. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Drivers LaCourt, LaViolette died in Oconto County crash on US 41
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Celebration of life for murdered teen
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The family of a murdered teen held a celebration of life ceremony for him on what would have been his 18th birthday. Semaj Floyd was shot and killed in early December of 2023 near the intersection of Amaranth and Perth Streets. He was only 16 at the time. Today, friends and family came together at Summerside Park to honor his life. People joined in a ceremonial balloon release in honor of his legacy. Semaj's great-grandfather Christopher Floyd said, 'We choose to celebrate his life because we don't want to see his life go in vain. We feel that the Lord is in charge of everything. You know, when they bring us in, when they take us out. So I don't feel that. I feel that everyone else should benefit from his legacy of living. He was all about living. He was good to his family, friends and comrades. So therefore, we should celebrate his legacy rather than mourning.' Three people have been indicted on murder charges for the shooting deaths Semaj Floyd and 20-year-old Omarion Whitfield. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Former LA Councilman Nate Holden celebration of life ceremony takes place Thursday
A celebration of life ceremony takes place Thursday for former Los Angeles City Councilmember Nate Holden, who served on the council for 16 years, from 1987 to 2003. Holden died on May 7 at 95 years old. "Nate Holden leaves behind a legacy of service and strength," Mayor Karen Bass said earlier in a statement. "Throughout his life, he put the South Los Angeles community front and center." Holden's accomplishments as a councilman included a gun buyback program in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department. He also introduced an initiative into Los Angeles law that required all children's toy guns to be brightly colored to avoid confusion with actual weapons. Following the 1992 Los Angeles riots, he was the driving force behind the rebuilding of the Crenshaw area. Before serving on the Los Angeles council, Holden served four years on the California State Senate from 1974 to 1978, where he authored and co-authored more than 70 bills that became law. Holden authored the bill establishing the Rev. Martin Luther King Junior's birthday as a state holiday, along with bills outlawing redlining on home mortgages, the Credit Denial Disclosure Act of 1976, increased funding for inner city schools, the creation of Baldwin Hills Regional Park, proliferation and control of liquor stores and property tax relief for senior citizens. Before his term as State Senator, Holden served as Assistant Chief Deputy to then-Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn for 12 years. "Nate Holden was a legend here in Los Angeles. He was a lion in the State Senate and a force to be reckoned with on the Los Angeles City Council," Supervisor Janice Hahn said at the time of his death. "I learned a lot sitting next to him in the chambers as a new Councilmember. He was a valued member of my father's staff for years and my dad relied on his unique brand of wisdom." Holden started his career in the aerospace industry as a design engineer for 17 years, which brought him to California. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army. Holden was born in Macon, Georgia and spent most of his childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was honored in 2003 when the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles was named after the Councilman. The celebration of life ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. on Thursday at West Angeles Church of God in South Los Angeles.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
New Jersey community remembers 13-year-old killed in crash in Egg Harbor Township
A New Jersey community came together to pay tribute to 13-year-old Mu'Zahir Moore, who was killed in a crash in Egg Harbor Township over the weekend. "He was only 13 years old," Leonard Robinson, Mu'Zahir's uncle, said. "He had a lot of life to live." Family, friends and many in the South Jersey sports community are remembering Mu'Zahir, who was better known as "Mu." At 13, his uncle says the teen was making a name for himself on both the basketball court and football field. "He was looking forward to going to college, going to high school, doing everything young athletes dream about," Robinson said. "He was a bright spot, a very bright spot." JSmart Photography Crowds of people gathered Tuesday in Atlantic City for a celebration of life. Mu's coach says that on Saturday afternoon, the eighth grader was getting ready for a basketball tournament. He was walking home with a friend after leaving Bargaintown Park in Egg Harbor Township. Police said a 71-year-old driver swerved to avoid another car near Delaware and Fernwood avenues, when he lost control, overturned and struck the teens on the grass shoulder. Mu died from his injuries at the hospital. His friend suffered minor injuries and was treated on the scene. "He was dominant. He was special on and off the field, on and off the basketball court," Tory Cavalieri, with the South Jersey Select Basketball program, said, "but he had something about him that every teacher and every coach who has coached him would tell you the same thing, his smile was contagious and his work ethic was second to none." Cavalieri said he coached Mu since third grade. "His name was out there to scouts and coaches who already were keeping an eye on that eighth-grade class," Cavalieri said. CBS News Philadelphia "He was a wonderful kid, modest, gentle, respectable, like a perfect child," Shanee Muhammad said. Mu was also part of the Pleasantville Jokers Youth Football league. On Sunday, Muhammad helped organize a community vigil in Mu's honor. Muhammad said teams and coaches from across the area showed up to support his family. Now, both his basketball and football coaches said they will retire his jersey Nos. 4 and 1 as another way to honor his impact in the community. "Any ball he put his hands on, he was just going to conquer the moment," Muhammad said. Police said the crash remains under investigation.
