Jernaire Hall - Site Memorial Online

Spirit & Peace These two words come to mind when I think of Jernaire Toquay Hall. My Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We seem to have that precept backwards. We strive for “all these things” first then or when, we find ourselves in trouble we seek his righteousness or even then His kingdom. Jernaire had it right from the start by her words and deeds. Simply put, her heart of reconciliation with family and friends. Protecting those of us (yours truly included) who could not defend ourselves whether in the heat of a family argument or by a different point of view. Sacrificing her own welfare for her children, family and friends. Jernaires’ life has given us a glimpse of how in our limited capacity we may come to understand God ‘s divine order. To seek His Spirit first and reap the Peace that surpasses all understanding within our daily lives. May God continue to bless Cheryl and Dennis for helping to create such a jewel in all our lives. May God care and protect their grandchildren Da’Jarna and Tyriq who are and continue to be blessed! May God touch each and ever family member and friend in the community so that Jernaire name shall remain the embodiment of Spirit and Peace. In Jah Love Always, Bradley

This is a tribute to Jernaire, whose courage, determination, and indomitable spirit inspired me as a parent to want to do more.

One rainy evening after the King Open Auction last spring, my family and I took cover under the bus shelter on Cambridge Street to wait the long wait for the 69 to Harvard Square. A woman in a motorized wheelchair rolled up followed by a young boy, dressed for baseball, flexing his mitt, and still energized from his little league game. Delayed by the downpour, the bus took a long time coming and a friendship of "Bus Stop Buddies" began to unfold. My daughter Celia, impressed with her classmate's uniform and mitt, encouraged Tyriq to demonstrate his batting stance and swing. Preferring a real game to adoring fans, though, Tyriq set up an imaginary game between Celia, her younger sister, Zulie, and himself with dashes through the rain to the nearby signpost to signify the bases. Though the children were sure to be wet by the time the bus arrived, Jernaire, my husband and I laughed merrily at the imaginary curve balls crushed by the batter into the stands where we served as fans. And between the pitches of an invisible ball, we shared our stories of parenting.

It was Jernaire's story that stayed with us as the symbol of what a parent can be. Shortly after Tyriq was born seven years ago, Jernaire fell direly ill. Though she never revealed the precise cause of the illness, she did eventually tell us about her victory over a failing heart. Five years ago, Jernaire had a heart transplant. While survival rates for transplant patients are good, with 70-80 percent of people living ten years or more after a transplant, Jernaire never fully recovered. Very matter of fact, she said that she had been an athlete in high school and now encouraged her older daughter and Tyriq to do well in athletics as an avenue to good health, better grades, and a strong outlook on life. She would not let Tyriq quit Pop Warner Football when he asked or take excuses from her daughter for missing practices with her CRLS cheerleading team. Yet even as her children thrived on physical activity, Jernaire's body continued to decline and she recently received a pacemaker to regulate her heart arrythmea. "I'm doing good now," she would say in a strong voice, rarely lingering on the topic of her health. "I can take Tyriq to his games and do the shopping and take him to his friends' houses just fine." She grinned about all the games she had watched from the stands, shivering in the cold, often rainy, Cambridge spring, and sharing small talk with the other few stalwart parents who stayed the duration of each game.

Our conversation continued along the route to Harvard Square, where the 69 driver knew Jernaire well and asked about her mother's health. We got off at our stop with Tyriq and waited together for the bus to kneel and allow Jernaire to roll safely across the threshold to the curb. The children did not stop talking, sharing tall tales of valiance on the field, until the rain let loose in icy sheets causing them to huddle together under our single umbrella. Jernaire, however, calmly took out a large plastic raincover. She pulled Tyriq to her, snuggling him into her lap under the protection of the cover, but exposing herself and her chair to the drenching rain. She rejected our offer of our umbrella, saying we needed it more than she did to keep our own two dry, and she rolled rapidly away with Tyriq on her lap to their small apartment on Putnam Street.

Over the next year, we met frequently at morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups at the King School bus stop, and we have laughed at just how wet all of us--except perhaps Tyriq--were when we arrived home after that downpour. We have shared stories of the small problems our children have faced with their reading or their friends. I have watched Jernaire look fiercely at her son for getting angry with another child on the playground, and demand good behavior. And I have watched Tyriq inspire in Celia an appreciation of the dedication that goes into playing a sport well.

On behalf of Tyriq and Da'Jarna and all of our community, we will miss a mother who is surely, of all of us, the one who deserves the accolade of Mother of the Year. Jernaire has inspired in so many of us a sense that the impossible is only the limitation of imagination.

At the end of Tyriq's Kindergarten family interview, do you remember when the children asked if there was anything important about your family that we hadn't asked you about? You, Da'Jarna and Tyriq sat together. You hugged them and you said, "Yes. I want you to know that every day that I wake up and am alive and together with Tyriq and Da'Jarna I'm so happy and thankful. That's something special about our family." You knew what it meant to appreciate every day and make the most of it. You were so proud of Da'Jarna and Tyriq, so strong and driven by your love for them. They are lucky to have had you as their mom, and they'll carry you in them forever. We all will. You will always be an inspiration to me, Jernaire. My love, suzi

Ahw.. i remma i taught you how to text thru the phone and you said to me.. "Wow, this is fun" Ima miss you SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH and you know i'll always love you.. Forever in my heart you rest in paradise!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Im going to miss your smile that you always had when I saw you, asking me what I was going to cook cause you wanted some. I loved the fact that you never gave an excuse of why you couldn't be there for your kids to shouting from the sidelines.  They are very lucky that they had such an amazing mother in their lives.  You will always be in our hearts!!

 

Love always & forever

 De Jesus & Torres Family