Help Children of Deceased Veteran Move & Readjust
Sadly, Francesca Merritt passed away last Friday, June 11th. Francesca was an active community member, and loved by many. She will be especially missed by her three daughters, Ashley “Mia” (age 20), Mischa (age 16) and Jasmine (age 13).
Francesca was many things to many people. She was a defender of this nation when she was a soldier for the U.S Army, a teacher and role model when she taught middle school, a respected community member in spaces like her local church—and to those closer to her, she was a violin player, a bookworm, a lover of art, and much, much, more.
Francesca valued investing. She taught her daughters how to invest in stocks and material items such as art. However it is evident that Francesca’s passion for investing extended beyond monetary value––she invested mentally, emotionally, and intellectually in her children, doing what she could to ensure their futures as strong, intelligent, caring, Black women. Currently, Francesca’s oldest daughter, Ashley, is a student at Howard University. Ashley is working towards a Chemistry degree which will aid in her future as a pharmacist. Right now, Ashley lives in Maryland, near her school and works a job in a pharmacy to support herself. However, after news of her mother’s declining health, she had to quit her job and return home to South Bend. Ashley now has the immense weight of tending to the legacy that Francesca left behind. This includes caring for her sisters, managing belongings and paperwork, as well as setting up and paying for a funeral service. Ashley now has plans to return to Maryland with her sister, Mischa, creating challenges for both girls; Ashley will begin caring for her sister while working and attending school, and Mischa will be relocated and need to readjust to her new school, environment, and community.Jasmine will also face challenges with readjustment, as she will be moving to Alabama to stay with her father.
We are asking for donations to help cover the cost of the funeral service for Francesca Merritt. We need to raise $5,000 by June 23rd, to cover all costs. Reaching this goal would not only make the deserved service possible, but it will also help with the financial weight currently placed on family members, especially, Ashley, Mischa and Jasmine, who need all the support they can receive as they move to their new homes, and readjust.
