Demara Howard

demara  howard
Demara Dunia Mpatapo Howard was born at Froedtert hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Sunday, September 12th, 2021 to Demaryl Ramon Howard and Tamara Naomi Thompson, completing their wonderfully blended family as their 10th child. In siblinghood, she joined Miguel Angel Ayala, Demaryl Howard Jr., Jocelyn Moore, Akil Howard, Jerry Moore III, Jordan Moore, Julius Moore, Jasmine Moore, and Sincére Howard. Demara became the niece of Sonya Brown, Andre Howard, Eric Shaw, Daniel Thompson, B.Jeffery Thompson, and Jenelle Thompson. Demara also became a grandchild to Roberta Howard, Butcham Veasley, Abigail Israel, and Ibrahim Thompson. In excited anticipation that their child would be a girl, her parents combined their first names to create her first name. Coincidentally they learned that “Demara” is the goddess of fertility in Celtic mythology. Dunia translates to Earth/World in Swahili. Mpatapo is a symbol image from the Adinkra (a system of symbols from Ghana in West Africa). It is meant to represent the "knot of pacification/reconciliation," and as such, it is the symbol for reconciliation, peacemaking, and pacification. "Mpatapo represents the bond or knot that binds the separate parties in a dispute to a peaceful, harmonious reconciliation. It is a symbol of peacemaking after strife." Baby Demara won the hearts of everyone in her family with her sweet demeanor, adorable sounds she made, her cute facial expressions, and wonderous ways she moved her little body all about. One of Demara’s first orders of business upon being born was to find her thumb soothing, which of course made the most adorable sight and sound. Demara’s favorite things were mommy’s milk, super soft blankets, her Boppy pillow, volleyball games, mommy’s necklaces, being carried near windows on sunny days, going for walks in her stroller, watching her siblings play and dance, and being smiled at. Demara liked being held football style most of all. Demara had a liking for baby fashion, turning heads, and obtaining “Awwws” with her stunning floral headdresses. Demara also loved seeing brother dance to the ‘Baby Shark’ song, watching Stephen Universe, and taking selfies on Snapchat with siblings. On her 1-month birth anniversary, Demara debuted as a community activist as she attended the Wisconsin State Capitol to advocate for the passage of the Wisconsin Birth Equity Act. She impressed all the other people there which included elected legislators, community leaders, supporters, and news reporters. Her presence at the WI Birth Equity Act being introduced helped the people across the state understand the importance of welcoming newborn Wisconsinites into strong, empowered families. On Demara’s 2-month birth anniversary, she traveled to the state of Florida to meet extended relatives and honor her Great Uncle Eddie Thompson in memory. There, she was lovingly adored and much to her pleasure, she got to be held by aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends. Demara became ill around the time of her 3-month birth anniversary with undetected disease, and her little body needed rest from fighting it, leaving everyone eternally heartbroken when she went to sleep on December 14th, 2021, and didn’t awake in the early hour on December 15th while at home with her family in Waukesha, WI. Demara will be dearly missed by all who had the divine pleasure of meeting her in person, and people all over the country who grew to know and love her parents and siblings. Her surviving siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends will carry her memory for the rest of their lives. In spirit Demara joins the arms of the ancestors as her Earthly body will rest in the bosom of her grandmother Ramona Howard. Her memory will live on forever in beautifully righteous infamy, charging those who are dedicated to forging more equity, rights, and quality of life for Black babies Black birthing parents to expand their activism in her honor. Demara, your presence here on Earth changed your family and the community at large from the moment of your conception. You are a representation of all that unbridled love is and can be, and for that, we say thank you. Even in this devastating time, you are bringing people together in love and support. Our hearts are eternally heavy, but your spirit is free and here with us all, guiding us in all we do. Asé. All Services Trusted to: Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services 7625 W. Appleton Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53222 414-461-8000

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