Honoring Memory of Taylor Rose Sookra

I never imagined attending one of my closest elementary school friend’s funeral services. On December 25, 2021, 14 year old Taylor Rose Sookra passed away unexpectedly. Taylor was born a natural leader, poised, self-confident, independent, secure, comical, vocal, and secure. She was loved by her friends, family, and teachers for being a resilient go-getter. Taylor was known for being successful both in the classroom and on the court. She was a phenomenal athlete with a dream to be a WNBA star. She wrote in her elementary school yearbook: “In twenty years, I plan on being one of the best WNBA players in WNBA history.” She loved her elementary school years at PS 188. Taylor was also an honor student at Berkley Carroll which she attended since 7th grade. She loved her school and was a successful point guard on their team.

 

Even though she went to an independent school in Brooklyn, and I went to a boarding school in Connecticut, we still kept in touch. Seeing her in the casket was shocking and made me realize how much I missed her. Taylor and I exchanged books, shared our favorite songs, and had plenty of laughs. We played basketball almost every recess and sometimes even after school. It was not easy to get a ball every recess due to the limited number. To honor the Memory of Taylor and her love for the game of basketball, I have created fundraising to provide students recess basketballs for local public schools in Bayside, including Taylor’s alma mater, PS 188. All the funding will be used to purchase basketballs to be distributed in the schools.