Obituary of Leslie Irene Belfon

The story of Leslie From the moment she came into this world, as her mother Alethea's blessing, on August 5th, 1969, our Leslie reached out and touched all of us. Perhaps it was partly because of her sickle cell that beautiful Leslie Belfon grabbed life right from the start, and lived every moment of her thirty nine years to the fullest. As a lifelong peer support and mentor for the "Gladiators for Sickle Cell Disease". Leslie thrived and helped everyone in her group. But she did not stop there because, for Leslie, the lines of giving were never drawn and she would spend time and effort seeing to it that those that mattered to her, family or otherwise, benefited from the strength of her support. That was her heart. Dedicated at Unity Temple in 1970, Leslie chose her godparents Thom Pride and Verilyn Thomas as she did all of her family and extended family. Leslie was also baptized by full emersion at St. Matthew's & St. Joseph's Episcopal Church in 2008 with her chosen godmother Darlene Williams. Leslie was a daughter to her chosen dad, Roger, a child to her Aunts and Uncle, a friend to her cousins, nieces and nephews, and a sister to her friends. Leslie had enough love to spread, even pouring attention onto her beloved puppies, Pongee and Chuki and of course, her favorite lifetime companionher "Fuzzy" bear. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Leslie, is the laugh that was in her voice when she gifted you with her individual brand of humor. It is through that sharp and knowing wit that Leslie delivered her messages, always letting you know she was watching and "telling it like it is" with a smile and a sense of humor. Her outward smile was as bright as the woman inside, who somehow knew what you needed and delivered with wisdom beyond her years, as well as an energy that surpassed her physical challenges. Once in the world of Leslie Belfon, you could not help but feel the thumbprint of her presence on your heart, as she was right there, pulling for others, bringing them together like the sun and the moon. That smile of Leslie's lit up, as she graduated from Bishop Borgess High School in 1987 to go on to a career in modeling and cosmetology that helped support her love for fabulous clothes and unique shoes Flamboyant high heels that brought her already tall, slender model frame ever higher to tell you "Leslie is in the room"ready for a good time, to live life and join in the party. It was an energy that drew people to her and to each other. Although her disease ultimately took Leslie from our physical presence, her spirit always so much bigger than any illness remains. Leslie is still bringing us together and forever making this world a better place because, she was in it. Leslie was preceded in transition by her chosen father Roger and brother Gregory. She leaves to cherish her memory: her mother Alethea Belfon; aunt, Frances White; uncle, Everard (Sylvia) Belfon; aunt, Letitia (Carl, Jr.) Bolden; and her chosen family, Brian, Carol, Cassandra, Marlin and Patrick. Along with her grandparents and a host of other aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and chosen family. A precious one from us has gone, a voice we love is stilled, A place is vacant in our hearts - which never can be filled. And after a lonely heartache and many a silent tear, But always a beautiful memory of one we love so dear.