By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Fittingly, morning clouds and overcast skies Friday gave way to brilliant sunshine.
It was almost like Heavenlee Weatherspoon’s infectious smile brightened the occasion.
Students at Union City Middle School celebrated the life of their friend and classmate who passed away suddenly and tragically due to complications from epilepsy on Valentine’s Day.
The entire 475-member UCMS student body along with faculty and staff honored the memory of the 13-year-old 8th-grader with a balloon release and a reverent moment of silence under a cloudless sky at War Memorial Stadium.
Heavenlee’s mother, Cherice, emotionally spoke of her daughter and her sweet and kind demeanor both during and after the ceremony.
“No doubt, the sunshine let her look down and smile on her family and friends today,” Cherice said through tears. “Heavenlee loved everybody.
“Let us all remember how beautiful she was. Through everything, she never complained. She’d just look at me and say, ‘I’m OK, momma.’”
Diagnosed with epilepsy at 18 months, Heavenlee had three different seizure disorders. She was forced to wear a football helmet at times for safety reason at a young age, though she progressively had improved health in her last several years via multiple medications.
Born in St. Louis, Heavenlee began attending UC Schools as a second-grader and immediately became a favorite of classmates – though sporadic seizures sometime occurred. Two of her six siblings (Marvon, 6th grade, and Ani’zsay, 9th grade) are also currently enrolled in the Union City System.
An older brother, Deandre, also spoke briefly at the occasion.
“No matter if she was hurting mentally or physically, she always was smiling,” the somber Weatherspoon recalled. “And when I’d ask her why, she’d never stop but just said, ‘I don’t know.’”
Members of UCMS and their families have been generous in their outpouring of support and signs of caring, donating money to both the family and the Epilepsy Foundation in memory of Heavenlee.
Students wore purple ribbons – donated by All Kraft Erectors of South Fulton – to Friday’s occasion, with each 8th-grader given a balloon to release upon Cherice’s countdown.
The ceremony was actually the idea of one of Heavenlee’s classmates, who approached school health coordinator Kristen Miles with the thought. Miles, who had a special relationship with Heavenlee for obvious reasons, immediately put a plan in motion to allow the student body to pay their respects via the celebration of life ceremony.
“This was about Heavenlee and her classmates getting the opportunity to share their thoughts and memories of her,” Miles said. “She enjoyed life despite her condition. She never played the victim card. She was well liked and interacted with everybody.
“She was a very lively and energetic and happy child. She didn’t know a stranger. She was always dancing and smiling. And she sure did love her family and her momma.”
Teacher Candra Smith, who taught Heavenlee in Read 180, beginning in the sixth grade, was another special person in the young girl’s life.
The remainder of the students in her class came up with the idea to make a memory book of their thoughts and memories of their classmate – a keepsake that was presented to Cherice at the end of Friday’s ceremony.
“Our Read 180 class is not the typical classroom,” Smith said. “The bond between our crew is rarely found. Heavenlee’s name is still on the top of the white board in our room where she wrote it the last day she was in class. Her classmates are adamant that it stay there.
“I have taken solace in the fact Heavenlee wrote and spoke often in 6th grade about her love for Jesus Christ, her Savior and Friend. I originally hoped a memory book might be a way for several of us to begin to heal and shower love on Heavenlee’s family.
“My 8th-graders took over the construction of Heavenlee’s memory book. Their love, creativity and maturity have been amazing and beautiful to witness. Students that would never be expected to share or discuss feelings have opened up about how they have been affected and what they miss about Heavenlee.
“The light Heavenlee brought to each room will be carried on in the hearts of our students that knew her fully and loved her fiercely. They are forever changed. They realize life is short and unpredictable. The making of the memory book is not the end of her legacy, but the start of waking up each day to pass on some of Heavenlee’s angelic, sassy, uplifting light to others.”
Cherice’s final words to the gathering that circled the field at War Memorial Stadium after briefly looking at the book were truly heartfelt and certainly were the theme for the occasion.
“I love you all,” she said.
And they “all” loved Heavenlee.