In Loving Memory
We invite you to share your own stories, memories, and reflections as a way of celebrating their lives and keeping their memory alive. Whether it’s a favorite memory, a special moment, or simply a few words of love and remembrance, every contribution is a tribute to the impact they had on our lives. We hope that this space will provide comfort, solace, and a sense of community as we remember those we have lost.
Memory by Meghan Leatherwood:
This day went unplanned. We were giving our friend a tour of DC and we got stuck in heavy traffic downtown.
I remember being frustrated because it was cutting into our time and the weather wasn’t great. My brother offered to stay with me and drop the others off.
We parked far from where they were, so Mark and I decided to do our own thing. I remember being grateful to have that time with him and I wanted to take advantage of it.
- We visited the Botanical Garden
- He shocked me with his knowledge of plants. Who would have known?
- We snuck past security into the Trump hotel to use the bathroom
- We made fun of the gold plated toilets
- He had me in tears after he tripped over a trash pile on the street
- We sat on a bench near the food trucks and I convinced him to order his first shawarma
- He was so fascinated with the head statues outside of the museum until I googled them and found out they were not the real deal. He was so annoyed that I took his picture with them
- I somehow lost him in the Natural History museum and couldn’t get back inside. He exited twenty minutes later, made eye contact with me and epically flipped me off with both hands in the air. I could not stop laughing at how flustered he was over it
Our entire unplanned day was filled with laughter and adventure.
I took his picture while we were in the botanical garden. I remember looking at it the next day, so thankful that he went with us and how much I loved him.
This was the last picture I ever took of him. I never could have imagined it would be used for his obituary two months later.
I look at this picture every day. Losing someone to suicide leaves you with a lifetime of unanswered questions, guilt and regret. A pain so hollow that you don’t know if you’ll ever recover.
“You don’t just lose someone once, you lose them every day, for a lifetime.”
Sometimes things go unplanned in life. Try to make the best out of them- you might just be grateful that you did. I know I am.
I’ll love you forever Markie.
8/17/94- 6/17/17
