<div>With the most shattered heart, I write on behalf of my beautiful, wild, courageous, inspiring and only sibling Shannon Renee Gray.
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<div>In the early hours of August 30th, 2024 my sister Shannon was in a fatal car accident. 
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<div>Shannon was born on December 8th, 1984 to my mother Shelli J. Gray and biological father, who is also passed, Vincent Antelli. She was never able to meet her father or even got to know what he looked like. But we know, she was in liking to his features.
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<div>When Shannon was 4 years old, my mother Shelli, met my dad Raymond E. Gray Jr.. my father adopted Shannon when she was 6 years old. And it was one of the happiest days of his life. And then I came along.
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<div>Growing up, Shannon was simply the coolest human to me!! Beautiful, flashy, and a wave of fearless energy. I wanted to be like her so badly!!! I stole her clothes, drove her absolutley crazy, and sat in the bathroom with her to watch her do her makeup thousands of times. And she would just make silly faces at me.
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<div>Shannon went to grade school at Waquonic Elementary in Taftville, CT. Later our family moved to Griswold, CT to where she would complete high school and graduate in 2002.
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<div>During her time in the Griswold School system, she made so many friends. Friends who I still have contact with to this day! You all loved her so deeply and filled her life with such laughter because I witnessed it myself growing up!! There are so many memories from the Griswold house, where my mother, Shelli Gray was "Mama" to all!!
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<div>In 2006, my family was struck by the foreclosure crisis. We lost just about everything. Animals, belongings, power. And Shannon and her once love Erik Brosig, fought and worked desperately to keep income coming in. But we were displaced from Griswold to Montville, CT. Nonetheless, Shannon and Erik fought to keep us afloat.
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<div>After years of struggle, loss of loved ones, loss of our childhood home of 16 years, and all living huddled together in a roomless basement. Erik, who had connections with St. Croix, USVI, offered to take Shannon there and start fresh.
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<div>Shannon fell in love. Though our always beloved Erik, would not be able to stay. Shannon toughed it out on her own for many years before my mother Shelli would move there.
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<div>Shannon would go on to practice Rastafari, living in the bush, eating vegan, and spreading the teachings of Haile Selassie and Jah.
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<div>10 years ago this October, my mother Shelli Gray would move to help Shannon during a time where she needed family and familiarity. When she needed my mother's sweet and unfolding arms.
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<div>Together they would end up conquering every trial and tribulation that made it to their doorstep. And in the process so many friends became our FAMILY! BLESS UP TO ALL OF YOU!!
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<div>In 2018, I got to see my sister for the first time in almost 13 years. I will never forget that day! Or my mom saying, "I am so happy my family is back together again!!".
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<div>Shannon at the time was working at Balter and made sure we were treated like royalty. She showed me island nightlife, took me on the town, and we celebrated!!
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<div>Shannon would go on to work at many if not almost all the other restaurants  on island, to where she blessed so many beautiful faces.
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<div>I know she also nannied for so many families before this, but I am unaware of those exact time lines.
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<div>Graciously, I got to visit more often. And Shannon's Island family soon became mine and my mother's.
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<div>I will be heading this week to see my Mother, Shelli Gray and be with her during this absolutely gut wrenching time. I had already bought a ticket 3 weeks ago so Shannon and my mom could meet my fiance on September 19th. We were all so f******* excited to be together again as I've been away for 3 years learning to tattoo.
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<div>I was so close oh God, so close to hugging her again!! To showing her I made it! To tattooing her !!! Which she begged me for.
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<div>Shannon Renee Gray, lived every single waking day of her life like it was her last. She inspired people to unapologetically BE THEMSELVES! To have CONFIDENCE! To be FEARLESS and WILD and FREE!!! But most importantly that ONE LOVE ruled over all things.
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<div>As a family, we have decided to have Shannon cremated. And do not have the funds to do this alone.
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<div>I feel obligated to protect my mother Shelli and father Raymond from this grief and burden of funds! But I also feel obligated to HONOR my sister Shannon's LEGACY RIGHT!
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<div>I want my mother to be able to live without financial burden, for her services and after the fact comfortably.
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<div>I am asking that if you can find it in your heart to help me show up Shannon, "Beau", Shay, Sha, Sha-nay-nay, right to please donate to her and our cause.. She deserves Carnival tromp in my opinion!! But anything helps to to make sure her body is sacredly handled and put to rest. She will forever be such a QUEEN!!!!
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<div>I am also scrambling to make my own funds available to be able to essentially leave immediately to be with my mother, Shelli Gray, who is such a strong and powerful warrior but I know so deep down is suffering at her core. That was her first baby!!!! She needs me right now and in the coming weeks.
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<div>Shannon can* NEVER be forgotten. Her spirit and energy was WAY TOO BIG FOR THIS PLACE!! The time we got with her IS and forever will be a BLESSING!
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<div>If anyone wants to help me get there, I am attaching my Venmo username. I had just spent 1500$ on tickets and now due to insurance claims, won't be refunded until I have an official death certificate. Which we all know this takes time on island.
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<div>@alysiag316 -Venmo
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<div>@GrammyWeesh -Cashapp
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<div>Writing this was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but need to do on my parents behalf. On Shannon's behalf.
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<div>I just want to thank EVERY SINGLE PERSON who loved her! Who made her smile, who cried with her, and shared space. THANK YOU FOR LOVING HER. SHARING PICTURES OF HER!!! TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT AND CONTINUE TOO!!
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<div>Thank you for loving her. Thank you for remembering her. Thank you for praying for her. And for our family! Thank you for helping me get to my Mama, whose been a mama to all!!
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<div>Thank you for helping me put her body to rest from so far away.
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<div>All my love and gratitude. Please stay safe out there, grieve responsibly.
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<div>ONE LOVE
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