On Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006, Rashida and her four (4) children were driving on a Kansas City highway when a deer jumped into the path of their car. She tried to miss it, but it came through the windshield hitting Rashida and the children. Rashida, 30 years old, was hit by the flailing antlers of the buck as it was still alive and trapped inside the car. And, because she taught her children to always look out for each other and don't turn your back on family, the oldest son dove into action and pulled the other children from the car, but could not get to his Mother.

Rashida was taken to the North Kansas City Hospital with head trauma and was in a coma until Thursday, the 20th, when she passed away. The children were taken to Children's Mercy Hospital. The oldest daughter, 11 years old, suffered from a fractured eye socket, fractured cheekbone, and a broken nose. The oldest boy, age 10, had a broken nose. The youngest son and daughter, ages 6 and 4, had minor injuries.

Rashida was a single mother and worked with her father at his market and flower shop, and she also bartended at two bars in Kansas City. At the corner market, she taught her children people skills by letting them help the customers, and their math was learned before other kids their age since she taught them how to check out customers without the use of a cash register or calculator. Part of the help she provided her Father at his shop was to help order the plants and flowers that - experience had taught her - would be the best sellers. She was also a model, posing for print, and modeling in fashion shows for local upscale clothing boutiques. Her real aspiration in life was to be a nurse, but the responsibilities and costs associated with being a single Mother denied her that opportunity.

Rashida always put others first. She believed in God and professed to be a Christian. She was always full of life, vibrant, and full of energy. She loved being a mother as her life was her children, which shows in them. She may not have had many things materialistically, but she had a very big heart. The one thing that she invested in was people, sharing that heart and her love to her children and to her friends. She always had a special connection with people and for those who knew her, were instantly touched by her heart the first time that they met her. She was always loyal, honest and trusting. She taught her children what is important in life...family, friends, love, trust, honesty, and being truthful. We were fortunate to have had her while we did, but it’s the question of, is it better to have loved and lost, or to have never loved at all.

If you want to help the children's future, there is a trust fund being established which they will not be able to access until the age of majority, and is theirs exclusively. You may send contributions to:

[This week, the meetings are occuring to set up a secured trust fund. I will be posting the actual trust fund's information so that it can go straight to that financial institution.]

View/Sign her Kansas City Star Online Obituary Guestbook

I post this "memorial" because this was a woman with whom I had discussed marriage - she was and always will hold a special place in my heart. Things were unbelievable between us, but because I felt a need to return to New York after finishing school, she put up her defenses to avoid getting hurt. I returned to Kansas City for the sole purpose of reestablishing what we had before I left, but that was never given a complete chance to happen. I was able to spend time with her before she passed, and even though she was in a coma, I am certain she could hear me. I was also fortunate enough to see her a couple weeks prior and discuss our feelings, so she knows how I feel, and I know how she felt. I will always have love in my heart for this wonderful woman, and her children will always be welcome in my home. Her family is now part of my family.

Contact me: chad@nycjones.com