To My Dear Sweet Big Sister Vallorie Perkins: (written before her passing) I love you so much you have been my role model even when I didn’t want to live up to the standard you left me to follow. In school you were an excellent student, athlete, and friend. At home you were an excellent cleaner and babysitter, and you are my excellent sister. You bought me my first pair of stocking, my first two-piece bathing suit; you gave me my first nephew, slash human doll and even though some would frown on it you took me to my first club. God chose you to be our parents first, child, so that we could learn from you. God has given you so much love, compassion, strength, beauty, and talent to share with everyone you meet. Vallorie, you’ve taught me to be a fighter and not a loser you taught me to love and believe in myself and trust in others. You taught me to put my faith in God always especially in the midst of life’s storms. I’m still learning; I still believe in God for a miracle that you will come through with total healing. If not here on earth with me: then with our father in Heaven, the one who we love and trust. I’m never going to let go of you, not the joy you brought to my life not the great fun we had not the late night gospel fest in our bedroom on Darrow. Yes, I love all my sisters and you all are great and Vallorie I asked God to let me take your place. Give me your pain let me fight this battle for you but this is not my fight and the battle you are fighting it is the Lord, we must put it his hands. I ask the Lord to teach me to be strong not just for you, but for your son that I will always love as my son and your grandchildren who I have love as I do mine. I can’t take your place I can’t sew and can’t draw but Vallorie I can love and I can pray in my own way and I will always love them and keep them prayed up. I thank God for you as my big sister I thank God for every fight and argument we had they made me stronger. I thank him for all the laughter and every tear of joy or sorrow. If I’ve ever hurt you or made you a shame please forgive me, I love you and you can never leave me cause you will always be in my heart. Don’t worry I’ll take care of mom even though I’ll never be able to fill that void in her heart, but I will do my best to be there. Thank you for supporting my vision with SEPA and encouraging me thank you for not quitting on me and I am going to run this race that God has given me even when my heart is breaking. Our lives have not been perfect but we have had joy. We’ve been the little Norris’, the Ruggles, and the Joshua family, always being blessed by the best and to have each other, that gift given to each of us by God. Thank you for showing me how to live through the storm with God at your back. I thank God for allowing you to be apart of your life; you have given me so much I wish I could lave given you more. Thank you for being a loving Aunt and mother to my children and their children. I love you Sister with the love of God and you are my Hero and always will be. God’s Healing. Your Sister, Minister Lucia Norris (Sunday August 19, 2007)