The following is the eulogy delivered by Claudia Stockhausen Henry for her sister, Alicia Edwards, during a funeral held May 29 at Full Gospel Tabernacle in Brooklyn, New York.

When we are born, we begin a journey; not knowing how long it will last; not sure how difficult it will be; not aware of the obstacles we will face; the hurdles we will have to jump; and the mountains we will have to climb.

For some of us, the end comes suddenly and tragically; for others it comes slowly, like the inevitable we cannot escape.

For those for whom it comes suddenly, the passage is swift and there is little pain; but, for others, it can be long and painful, especially when we have not been given a chance to achieve our goals or to reach the point of reflection.

'Chicken'

Alicia Misheka Edwards affectionately called 'Chicken' neither had the chance to achieve her goals, nor to reflect on her passage.

Born on December 21, 1982, to Cynthia Bent and Hampton Edwards (deceased), she left us on May 15 at the age of 26.

Alicia loved the name 'Chicken' so much that whenever people asked her name, she would respond, 'Chicken'.

She also loved God, so much so that she was baptised not once, but twice.

She was kind, loving and had a zest for life. She was strong, jovial, saucy, stubborn, courageous, determined and no matter what happened, she always stood her ground to the end.

She was very hard-working and was willing to do any decent job which offered her an honest living.

She was always helpful, and would give her last and even do without, as was the case when she gave away her last pain reliever and did without.

Loved to cook

She loved to cook and she could cook the most delicious meals.

She loved life so much that she battled cancer for eight years, even when the doctors gave up on her, until her body succumbed.

But, even on her deathbed she was jovial, and when I asked her what's my name, she said my full name and described me as "her sister who is like her mumma".

Although her death was anticipated as the cancer ravaged her body, that will not reduce the pain or contain the sorrow that we feel today at her passing.

But we must recall that there is no shame in sorrow.

John 11:35 tells us, 'Jesus wept', and if the Son of God found it necessary to cry, why not us mere mortals?

Tears have a language of their own. God made us that way. Hurting hearts are weeping today, and mere words are inadequate.

Her mother, sisters, brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents, including adoptive parents Mr and Mrs Sylvester Brown, and her many friends, including her best friend, Kizzy; son, Jay, Aunty Lorna, and cousin, Denton, are all left to mourn her passing.

Revelation 21:4

But, as we weep over her departure, she would want us to remember the words of Revelation 21:4:

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Whatever Alicia did not achieve in her life, let us ensure that she achieves it by her death.

Let us absorb her courage and her will to survive and use them to carry us through the dark days and, while we remember her, and let us also remember the words of Corinthinians:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."

Rest in peace, my beloved sister.