Shariana Victoria Spears, 26

It Is Well With My Soul: Shariana Victoria Spears

Shariana was born September 2, 1992, to Sheila York Hopkins and her former husband, Kenneth Ray Spears, Sr. in New Orleans, Louisiana. Shari spent her early childhood in New Orleans where she attended Resurrection of Our Lord elementary school. During this time Shari began to demonstrate her gifted athleticism. She began to dance and play basketball. It was clear early on that she was going to be very good at both of these endeavors. By the age of eight Shari was able to play with the boys in the neighborhood. She mastered the crossover dribble and behind the back pass. During this period, she gained a love for dancing. While a student at Benjamin's Dance Studios, she excelled in jazz, ballet and tap. Her love did not stop there. Later Shariana began to show that she had a real talent for dancing. It was said that she danced as if she had no spine.

In 2001, Sheila met and married Father Dan Hopkins. At that time the family moved from Amite, Louisiana to Aurora, Colorado, where they continue to reside. Upon arriving in Aurora, Shari attended Village East and Rolling Hills elementary schools. She also attended Falcon Creek Middle school and Grandview High School. Later she started her post-secondary education at the Community College of Denver where she studied until medical issues forced her to withdraw. Shari continued to demonstrate her basketball and dance skills. Whenever Shari entered a game the crowd would greet her by yelling, 'It's Electric'. This was due to the frenetic pace with which she played and the passes that seemed to come from everywhere. At this time, she was also mastering her dance skills. Her instructors regularly encouraged her to consider a career as a dancer.

In 2009 at the age of 16, Shariana acquired Lupus. From this time on, her life was dramatically and irreversibly changed. Her athletic skill was diminished as severe pain and illness replaced them. The next 10.5 years saw numerous hospitalizations, several surgeries, constant visits to doctors' offices and dozens of medical perscriptions. With the tremendous dedication of her mother, Sheila, her dad, Dan, her sisters, Lauren Nicole, Rosamond and her personal care professional/big sister Armisha Harris, Shari was able to face and meet the challenges set before her. Even with all of her pain and struggles Shariana maintained a strong faith in the Lord. Shari stated during a homily delivered on Youth Sunday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Denver, her only real help with this disease and all of its accompanying pain came from the Lord.

While attending the wedding of her cousin, Shari was able to experience the love of her extended family. She was able to eat many of her favorite foods, especially, snowballs and fried seafood. In what seemed miraculous, Shari was able to ignore her pain while once again demonstrating her dancing skills. Later that night, while sleeping peacefully, Shari went home to be with the Lord she loves. While she will be greatly missed, her family is grateful that she is in a place where there is no pain or suffering. She has taken off the corruptible body and put on a new and incorruptible one.

Shariana was preceded in death by her grandmothers, Queen Victoria York and Verna Lee James; her grandfathers, James York, Sr., Murdock James, Jr., Willie Hopkins, Jr. and Joseph Smith; She is survived by Her Grandmothers, Lula Hopkins and Bernell Spears LaBee; Her mother Sheila York Hopkins her stepfather Dan Hopkins; her father Kenneth Ray Spears, Sr.; her sisters Lauren Nicole Hopkins, Rosamond Hopkins, Tashuna Washington, Lauren James and Chelsi James; her brothers, KarDaryl Spears and Kenneth Ray Spears, Jr. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

The family is celebrating Shariana's life and legacy by wearing the color "purple." Please join us and wear something purple (clothing, accessories, etc.).