I know that the energy on BGLH is usually high, but today I got a very sad email. Aliyah, a beautiful BGLH reader passed away on Nov. 10, 2009. She suffered from an undiagnosed mental illness, according to her aunt, who had beautiful words for her niece…
“Aliyah loved her curls. We are a large extended family dominated by women with the usual “hair issues”. Aliyah inspired many of my nieces and her aunties too—to love the hair God gave us. It was one of her best and most well loved features and she was constantly looking for ways to keep it beautiful. I went to her facebook page and found the link to your website that she gave to one of my other nieces for tips on how to care for our natural hair.”
The BGLH family extends its condolences to Aliyah’s friends and family in this difficult time. She truly was beautiful.
Another one of Aliyah’s aunts left a beautiful reply in the comment box below. I’ve added it to the text of the post:
“I am Aliyah’s Aunt Tawnya and I want to express my sincerest thanks to the BGLH family and those who have posted to this blog site. Our Aliyah was one of the sweetest souls that has ever touched our lives. We are so thankful to have had her with us for even a short time. The out pouring and love we have received from absolute strangers who have in some way been affected by Aliyah’s life and death has truly been overwhelming and we are so grateful.
I believe each soul has a designated purpose in this world and we are learning about the significant impact Aliyah has had on others beyond her family and intimate friends. She was truly a remarkable human being and a brillant and beautiful BGLH reader. I believe to bring the issues surrounding mental illness out of the shadows and into the light, is one of the many ways we can honor Aliyah’s life and death. Most people, and people of African descent in particular, have long been afriad, ashamed and in denial around the effects that mental health issues have had on our communities. Please, please let’s get educated and begin to become pro-active around mental health because it is something that is hidden and cloaked in attitudes that will keep it as a significant threat to our families, our communities and our future if we do not. We need our brillant young people and we cannot continue to loose them to violence of any kind.
Again thank you and God be with you,
Aunt T1”
If you or anyone you know suffers from mental illness please go to a counseling center or health clinic in your area.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/
39 Responses
May she rest in peace.
There are certainly a lot of details like that to take into consideration.
R.I.P.
RIP Aliyah
May she R.I.P., and I send my condolences to her family and friends.
Didn’t know her but I am familiar with having a family member with mental illness. It’s important to have that supportive network at all times. There’s so much work to be done. My condolences to the family.
God the family for the physical loss of their beautiful one. May they feel her presence with every breath and moment in each day. Bless.
God Bless Aliyah, and may her beautiful soul rest in peace
My most sincere condolences to her family, I am very sorry for yor loss.
Many thanks for the outpouring of love to our family. We will always love and miss our beautiful Li. Every time I think of her, I see her with light all around. God is still in the blessing business,and we know Li is at peaceful rest.
Her Aunt T2
My condolences to the family… what a tragic loss.
R.I.P Aliyah. You were a very beautiful person.
My condolences goes out to the family.
@ Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, I am soo sorry for your family’s loss.. sending you all continued strenght and positive energy!
My heart goes out to her fam & loved ones she parted from. RIP.
I hope she’s resting in God’s bossom. Gorgeous girl with gorgeous hair.
X
I am Aliyah’s Aunt Tawnya and I want to express my sincerest thanks to the BGLH family and those who have posted to this blog site. Our Aliyah was one of the sweetest souls that has ever touched our lives. We are so thankful to have had her with us for even a short time. The out pouring and love we have received from absolute strangers who have in some way been affected by Aliyah’s life and death has truly been overwhelming and we are so grateful.
I believe each soul has a designated purpose in this world and we are learning about the significant impact Aliyah has had on others beyond her family and intimate friends. She was truly a remarkable human being and a brillant and beautiful BGLH reader. I believe to bring the issues surrounding mental illness out of the shadows and into the light, is one of the many ways we can honor Aliyah’s life and death. Most people, and people of African descent in particular, have long been afriad, ashamed and in denial around the effects that mental health issues have had on our communities. Please, please let’s get educated and begin to become pro-active around mental health because it is something that is hidden and cloaked in attitudes that will keep it as a significant threat to our families, our communities and our future if we do not. We need our brillant young people and we cannot continue to loose them to violence of any kind.
Again thank you and God be with you,
Aunt T1
@ Jc… you are so right. Mental illness awareness is so important!
my condolences!!!
*Gasp*
I’m so sorry!
May God be with them.
Poor thing. My deepest condolences to her family.
So sorry for this family’s loss. May God be with them.
Oh for uk, the mental health charity is http://www.mind.org.uk
Mental illness really does need a spotlight so thank you to her family for sharing this with the blog. My sincere condolences to her family.
ohmygosh, this is so sad 🙁
*praying for her family*
Wow, I’m so sorry for their loss. My prayers are truly with her family. May God comfort them while they are mourning and in due time He will restore their joy.
That is so sad.
She was only 10 days short from her 23rd birthday when the Lord decided to take her home. My thoughts are with her family during this time.
Peace and many blessings to her family during their time of bereavement. May God grant them comfort and the company of loved ones. Aliyah your passion and influence will live on through those who knew you best.
May we all remember to live & love everyday. I pray that we extend the love God has for us, to one another. We need each other.
She’s so beautiful, and like an earlier post, her spirit does shine through her eyes, I will be praying for her family and friends and all those touched by her passing. RIP Aliyah
)= R.I.P sad story my heart goes out to her family.
What a beautiful young lady. My condolences to the family and friends.
RIP, i’m sorry for their loss. Her beautiful spirit seems to shine through her eyes!
My heart goes out to her family and friends. She was truly beautiful!
Memory eternal, Aliyah!
My prayers go out to her family, she was a beautiful young lady.
Truly sad. She looks like she was a beautiful soul. Fabulous hair. My sincerest condolences go out to her family and friends. My God bless, keep and comfort them as they deal with losing her.
A beautiful young woman to be gone so soon. My prayers goes out to her family.
Condolences to her family.
this breaks my heart…I sincerely hope she’s resting in peace, and will pray for her family.
I’m so sorry to hear this.. RIP, my prayers are with her and her family.
Her b-day is the day before mines and she’s 1 yr older than me.
R.I.P Beautiful 🙂
she was truly beautiful. i am so sorry to read this, and she is with the angels now.