DEXTER "CHUCKY" THOMAS FUNERAL EXP.

Hi, my name is Mario Leonard, the uncle of Dexter "Chuckie" Thomas.   Chucky passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2015.  Although he was not as healthy as he could have been, no one expected him to pass so suddenly.  He was 46.

My phone rang around 10:19 p.m.  It was my sister in law Karen,  Mario, she said, I need to tell you "xxxx" pass!  I'd been asleep and didn't make out the name.  "Who passed?", I asked, now alert as I braced for the revelation.  "Chucky, your nephew!"

I laid silent for a moment.  Then the requisite, how, when questions, but they didn't matter.  She'd said "Chucky passed".  Dexter, my first nephew, born on November 15, 1968, was the first person I'd ever felt any responsibility for.  I'll never forget that night when my mom came home, after my sister was in pain all day and had to be rushed to the hospital.  I couldn't sleep, and heard her when she returned home and came into my room.  She sat on the corner of the bed and said, "Mario, your sister just had a baby!"   I asked "how? She wasn't pregnant."   Mom said she didn't know either.   And so we just had to accept it.  

Later, I learned it was a cryptic birth.  One where neither the mother or her doctors knew until just before or at birth.    That experience changed a lot of lives especially Chucky's and his mom.  

But Chucky was a lovely boy, handsome, full of life and a smile like sunshine.  He was always smiling even when he was into mischief.   He was a hard worker too, but somehow, it wasn't hard enough, so he'd always find himself shortchanged and things were always a little difficult.  But he never stopped trying, he never stopped smiling even after he suffered a stroke about a year ago.  He knew he had to change his lifestyle, watch what he ate and start to exercise.  But he had to work to keep things going.  His cousin Kysha, was there for him and took him in.  Peas in a pod they were.   But he was used to living alone, so he decided to leave and give it a go one more time.  

Then, the phone call.  He'd suffered a seizure, then a series of seizures.  Then.... he was gone!  Just like that. Gone!

Kysha, is devastated,  The family is in shock.  His mother Carmen is beside herself.  His brothers, Mchumba and Seku are holding it together as best as they can.  

I had to break the news to my his 88 year old mother, his grandmother the next day.  She'd suspected something was wrong as calls were coming in asking her if she was ok, and even if she was alive.  "Huh?", she replied.  Somehow they refrained from telling her directly and that was a good thing.  

My brother Mango was there, but he said he waited for me as he was told I'd be coming by.  Mom wondered why two of her sons who usually visit in the evenings or on weekends were both there at 9am and had even bought her some food.   Yep, she suspected something was up.  

When I told her I had some sad news, she look me directly in my eyes and as I said "Chucky" her head snapped back.  And then she started bawling.  Her first grandson was gone.  She'd experienced the passing of a grandson before, Kadeem, may he rest in piece.  Now Chuckie.  He was her first, and she raised him as her son, so it was especially hard.   "I want him to come home.  I need to see him," she said.   Our matriach had spoken.

So now we're trying to raise funds to do just that.  To 

"BRING CHUCKY HOME!"

If you can and would like to help with the expenses, the family appreciates any contribution you can make through GoFundMe.  The funds will be used to pay for funeral expenses to prep his body, casket, airfare, a vault, burial site fees, church fee and travel expenses for his mom, who will need some assistance as well.  

We'd like to get the funds as soon as possible, preferably by Wedneday or Thursday as the Hospital and morgue in Atlanta are full and his body is now at a funeral home, where there might a time limit before extended time charges are incurred.   Some family members would like for his body to stay for a memorial next Saturday or as soon as possible, as everyone will not be able to afford to travel to the Virgin Islands with him to qsend him to his final resting place.  Some funds would be used for that as well.  The remaining funds will be used to take care of his remaining affairs.

So that's the story.  That's my request on Chucky's behalf.   

Why does this mean so much to me?  Because Chucky was like my brother and my son.  I was 14 when he was born and as sudden as he died, it was that quickly he came into our lives.  And when he did, the only thing we could do was love him and his infectious smile.  And we always will!

Your donation will help his sudden passing to be a smooth transition so that he may eternally rest in peace! Finally!  

Thank you! 

Mario