It is with a heavy heart, that I share with you today, the recent passing of my dear father, Mr. Jeffrey D. Black. My father was a man of his word, spiritual, kind, family-oriented, community-centered, and with a profound passion for music, both listening & dancing, especially Summertime Reggae, 70s/80s Funk & R&B, Latin music, gospel and smooth jazz. He also enjoyed classical music with early training as a young cellist. My dad loved movies, especially Stars Wars, Lord of the Rings, the Matrix, Batman, & Marvel/ DC series and on occasion would enjoy the pastimes of watching Looney Tunes, especially Bugs Bunny & SpongeBob with his granddaughter. My dad truly enjoyed watching sports & attending games, especially the Knicks & Yankees. Trained in Energy Science & Conservation, Fire Safety & Security, my dad was also well-skilled in Mathematics. He was also a writer of poetry and a person who loved spending time and taking pictures of nature, especially Springtime flowers, trees & the sunrise and sunset skies. A spiritual man, he would often pray and reflect to his Higher Power and daily lived his life with patience, gratitude & positivity. Mr. Black, also known as Daddy, Grandpa, Jeff and JazzyB to his closest friends & family, will be truly missed.

Known for his booming laughter, energetic clap, and fashionable style, alongside his kindness, patience, a good listener & his thoughtful words of encouragement & inspiration at just the right moment, my Dad's positive energy has and will remain known to our family, friends and local communities for years to come. My father also had a quiet and reflective demeanor when the world just felt out of sorts, my father was the type of person to bring a steady calm and strength into any room and scenario he encountered. My dad managed his health vigorously, attended his primary doctor & specialist appointments, routinely took his medications & vitamins, stayed physically active with daily walks & stretches, and didn't let his medical conditions stand in the way of his ability to show up and support those around him. A family man, a dedicated worker, a neighbor to all, Daddy aka Grandpa, we will miss you dearly.

Today, I am raising funds to support our family, especially, the love of his life, my mother, Mrs. Marta M. Black. Together for 39 years of marriage, having just celebrated their wedding anniversary this past Saturday, May 18th, 2024, they are true embodiments of soulmates. Through their ebbs & flows and the waves & turns of life, the Yin Yang energy of their personalities will forever be sealed by the truest dedication of love & togetherness. A perfect example of their wedding song, Always & Forever, sung by the one and only, Heat Wave, my parents' love for each other is one of those precious gems, that I am truly grateful to have had the blessing & privilege to have witnessed and experience, all of my life.

It is also at this time, that I reach out to our nearest and dearest, for financial support. The sudden nature of my father's passing in his sleep, though of a peaceful transition, left my family, particularly my mother, with a heavy financial burden. Though often quiet of our personal financial situation, it is of no secret the rising costs and expenses to provide our loved ones even the modest of memorials & respect in our current city & modern world. I am truly grateful for the end-of-life providers who have been willing to work with us, since my father's passing took us completely by surprise. However, there are also considerable funeral expenses that are being requested either upfront or within a short window of my father's passing leading up to his burial next week.

Any and every type of support through financial, emotional and spiritual is more than welcomed at this time. Your support will be directed towards my mother, a college graduate, an artist, & a Bilingual High School Paraprofessional Teacher & Educator for the N.Y.C. Department of Education, my sister, a rising junior through the Macaulay Honors program at Hunter college, with interests in dance, education & business, my daughter, Nairobi, a rising 6th grader, who loved her Grandpa dearly & who has already learned at her young age from her Grandpa, a true appreciation of family, a solid focus on her academics, especially writing & creating her own stories, a sense of spirituality, and a shared passion for music, tennis and board games, especially, chess, and for myself, a community-based Clinical Social worker & Therapist, college & Master's degree graduate, who values & always tries to embody the teachings of my father, including 'putting family first', 'working hard but not overworking', and 'knowing when to just rest & enjoy the beauty of life treasures around us'.

Daddy, we love you so much, and miss you. I pray you and Nana are laughing together and sharing the latest Sports statistics with each other. May we, as a family & collective community continue to stay strong, make you proud, and to bring you that special smile, that little twinkle in your eye & that famous chuckle to your spirit up in Heaven. Your feline buddies, T’Challa & Sasha are looking for you & miss you too. Hope Spunky (Passed Summer 2023) is at your feet, keeping you company.

And thank you in advance to you, dear reader, for taking the time to learn a little bit more about our story, for the outpour of emotional support & prayers you've already shared, and for your consideration of any monetary supports you're able to provide at this time.

Yours truly,

Kalina Crystal Black

A proud daughter of her Daddy