On June 14, 2008 the Jim "Catfish" Hunter ALS Chapter will be conducting a walk in Greensboro. Please join "Team Keri" and help raise money to help defeat ALS. Click here and start fundraising today! Let's honor her memory & her impact on our lives, & make "Team Keri" the biggest team at the walk!

 

Update - 1/26/2008 - Message from Keri's Parents
A few months ago, we couldn't imagine how we would still breathe, at the thought of losing our daughter. Our grief is beyond all description. Keri was our life and breath, and reason. We are lost without her.

Many of you have requested copies of the visual slideshow we made - TO KELLYN, words to music, and the poem, used in the Memorial Service for our daughter, Keri. The Remembrance slideshow was made with many photos and messages to Kellyn in Keri's voice. It was fitting for the service, but not the internet; I may submit something later.

Keri was a music minor, and loved all kinds of music. She sang in the choir, and quartet. The songs used in the service were chosen by her, or by her friend:

Prelude: Happy Land / The Lord's My Shepard / Dear Father (Neil Diamond) / My Prayer (Celine Dion) / Flying Dreams (Paul Williams/Don Bluthe)

Click HERE for FLYING DREAMS (this is from "The Secret of Nimh", one of Keri's favorite childhood movies. Jennifer played this at Cope and Keri's wedding on violin. She also played it at Kellyn's Baptism (see photo of Jenn). The song was performed by 2 violins (Jennifer Lassiter & Michael Dodds, with MaryLea Williams, piano)

AMAZING GRACE was Copeland's request - sung by all.

The last time Keri sang with the quartet, the song was LOVE OF GOD. This was performed by the quartet members she loved.

For the poem (author unknown) presented by Keri's uncle, Rev. Elmer Barker, Click HERE.

Click HERE for I Danced in the Morning (or Lord of the Dance) - a Shaker hymn we have sung since Keri's childhood, sung by all. Many requests have come in for this music.

The choir performed: Soon and Very Soon

The Postlude was Keri's favorite organ music:
Toccata V

Kellyn is springtime. Copeland says their baby pics are "spittin' image" of each other. We delight in her each day.

We want to discuss more about Keri's journey, but not in this entry. We have learned much that may be of help.

For meals, prayers, and general support of Copeland and our family, we thank you. To all that shared the memorial service with us, we thank you. To all who help with Kellyn's Trust Fund, we thank you. To the many friends and family that DID NOT stay away because it was too painful to see Keri, we love and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for thinking of HER.

Harold and Joanie Brown
 

Update - 1/20/2008
A tribute to my friend, by Gwen Sellers

There were others who knew her better, longer, shared more than I did. She and I shared a lot, don’t get me wrong. We got fifteen good years of laughs and tears and I thank God that she was a part of my life. I guess when someone dies you regret every day you thought you should call or go see that person and you didn’t. Sometimes we wouldn’t talk for a month or two but we always picked up right where we left off.

Keri Denise Brown Still was one of my best friends ever since we met on a band trip in London back in high school. She was always so beautiful, even through her suffering and her pain. Even in death she was beautiful, so full of grace. She was beautiful on the inside too. You could never meet a more loyal, loving, giving person.

She loved life and she lived it to the fullest. She did what she wanted to do. She went where she wanted to go. She loved who she wanted to love. She was always there for her friends and even there for people she didn’t know. She loved animals and 80’s music, marching band and the beach. She loved to have fun and she had a lot of it.

I have been there with her for the last year a lot and I am so glad she let me do it. It was so hard to watch her struggle, watch her cry and to try to be strong for her. I have witnessed more pain and frustration than any one person should have to go through. I watched her fight to move, fight to breathe, fight to be here for her daughter and her family. She fought harder than anyone I have ever seen, harder than I could. But I saw the good times too. I saw the things that made her happy, made her laugh. Kellyn, Saturday Night Live, South Park, Copeland who she loved unconditionally.

Her last year on this earth was definitely a hard one. In some ways it was a beautiful one too. I saw her accept the fact that she was not going to be here to see Kellyn grow up or even take her first steps. I saw her find the good in that and take charge even then. When Kellyn crawled early she said she did it so Mommy could see. She found Kellyn’s first tooth when she was sucking on her finger. She made jokes like she was going to be Darth Vader for Halloween; she said she already had the mask. She made tapes so Kellyn could hear her voice. She had me buy birthday cards to give her every year and told me what to write in them.

Keri had a fire, a spunk that is unmatched in anyone else I ever met. I miss her terribly. I miss her saying “Hey Darlin how are ya?” I miss her voice and her vibrancy. I miss our road trips and beach trips. I miss our hour long phone conversations. I have never met anyone like her. She was an incredible person and a more incredible friend. She will always be my hero.

Keri Brown Still may you rest in peace. There’s a hole in my heart that will never go away because you were such a big part of me. Thank you for being my sister and my friend. Thank you for showing me what life is about and what it really means to love. Thank you for being there for me through all the stupid stuff, the guys, college, life. I love you so much. Thank you darlin for being you and being the person I strive to be. You will never leave our hearts or our minds.

Your legacy is huge and your love was deep strong and true. I know you are free now, free of frustration and pain. I know you can move now. I thank God for that. I miss you terribly but I love you more and I know you are in a better place.

Update - 1/14/2008
On Sunday, January 13, 2008, Keri Denise Brown Still passed on to be with her Lord.

Keri's Memorial Service has been set for Thursday January 17th, 2008 at 11:00am with Visitation to follow in the fellowship hall at 1st Presbyterian Church on Cherry Street in Downtown Winston-Salem.

Update - 1/12/2008 By Her Mother, Joanie Brown

There are some new photos. Kellyn was christened in October, in an outdoor ceremony at her home. A circle of many denominations made up a group of people that witnessed the charge of Kellyn Redding Still into all our care; us all being part of God's family.

Kellyn's other grandparents are: Cope's mom - Phyllis Still or better known as GRAMMIE. Buddy Still is Cope's dad, and step-mom is Cynthia. Kellyn also has Great-Grandparents; (Phyllis' Mom & Dad) Nancy & Phil Reisinger . Kellyn's godparents are Brian and Annette Burnette, and her god-sister is Kailey.

The motorcycle ride/carnival benefit in honor of Keri, was a resounding success, and Keri was able to attend for a while, via ambulance transport by a couple who have become her friends. This event was organized by Keri's good friend Amy Cain, and many others friends helped.

The ALS fund drive WALK was very successful; the BB&T group named themselves TEAM KERI, and raised the fourth largest amount of money in the entire Winston-Salem district, for the research of ALS. We do hope that TEAM KERI will grow and continue to help in this endeavor, to fight this horrible disease.

BB&T also, with the help of Richard Childress of Childress Vineyards, held a dinner and silent auction in honor of Keri. This helped Keri to remember all her co-workers hold her dear, and has been much comfort.

Keri's years at Allegacy FCU, blessed her with so many friends that are constantly on call. We also want to thank the Hispanic League of Winston-Salem, which Keri served on the board for years.

Many old friends, relatives, and many new ones, have helped Keri in so many ways. In the home, and thru this website, the response has been so comforting. All the support we receive, thru this site and other ways, helps us in ways we cannot say.

My cancer is now in remission; the scans appear clean again, after chemo ended in October.

Please know that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the kindness and generosity you show Keri thru your donations, wonderful messages, and prayers. SO many people she never dreamed even remembered her, have written; even from kindergarten days. We have shared tears and memories.

Keri's temporary disability from her job finally has helped, and she has received help thru Social Services and the ALS "Catfish" Hunter Chapter. BUT there has been no comfort like knowing she is being remembered by her friends, church, and family. There happens. Keri's worries as well as dreams for her daughter are huge.

As to Keri's health: She now must wear the bipap mask all the time. She now has a feeding tube to aid in getting enough nourishment. This has helped much toward getting some strength back. Breathing is the hardest thing she must deal with, but unable to move makes it very hard to be comfortable. These holidays are hard; no need to pretend its not. There is a pain and sadness that is so overwhelming that we fight thru each day. Copeland, Keri's dad Harold, and myself face each day thankful that we have Keri here to care for, and love. Kellyn brings us all joy. She is crawling and jabbering, and so much looks like her mom!

Thanks to you all for keeping up with Keri. She is an amazing woman. And even though she cannot move or talk very much, she is still in charge!

Joanie Brown (for Keri, Copeland, Harold, and our families).
 

Update - 10/5/2007 - A Message from Keri

Hello dear friends, some old, some new. My mom is writing this for me.

It is more than we can say to let you all know how much your kindness and generosity means to us all.

At left is a photo my friend Gwen (who accompanied us to PA) made at the last day in the hospital in NJ ICU before we flew home, via medical transport. Here I am having a break from the Bipap.

I wanted to a address the Journal article, as to my anger.

God can handle it. There has never been a moment that my faith in God has not been there. I pray every day. I know God can handle my anger. His own son Jesus was disappointed and felt rejected, as he hung on the cross, wondering why his father had forsaken him. God had been angry too; he can handle it.

Its the disappointment I feel, my family feels, that God has chosen a different road for me that hurts so bad.

My heart goes out to you all for your caring and love.

Love, Keri Brown Still and my families.