In Memory of Kate Spade: Suicide Has Many Faces

Kate Spade, an innovative designer that created a fashion empire that transcends generations, was found dead on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in what police characterized as a suicide by hanging. This left many on Social Media to ponder: What does depression look like? What does that woman that has everything look like? What does a woman that suffers from deep sadness and loneliness look like? What does the face of someone who suffers silently with grief and loss look like? What does a person who has contemplated taking their own life look like? That face has many covers. Yesterday, that face was Kate Spade’s.  Oftentimes, you just don’t know the battles that people go through behind closed doors. Stop making assumptions and show compassion. It’s okay to call, text, or send a message to someone just to ask how they are doing. Simple empathy and love makes a difference. Rest in Peace Kate Spade.  May your legacy continue to carry on and may your death encourage others to seek help if needed. Suicide and depression has many faces. #RIP #KateSpade

If you or anyone you know is contemplating suicide please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and seek help. Your life matters. Call 1-800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.  The lifeline is available 24 hours everyday.

 

Love,
Simply Ebony

Love, Loss, Death and Grief

Roderick Dunston’s death has opened my eyes to many truths some painful and some insightful. Quietly attending his funeral here in Maryland and observing others I realized a few things.

#1 He was loved by many. ❤️🖤❤️ He gave tirelessly after his stroke. It was so important for him to raise awareness and help others.

#2 He had a BIG heart. He loved EVERYBODY. There was not one person in the room that wasn’t touched in some way by Roderick.

#3 Compassion. That’s the one Word that rang volumes. His brother Marcus Dunston holds so many of his traits. To just be loving and compassionate to everyone.

#4 Guard your tongue. This lesson Roderick taught me over and over again. Not everything needs to be said. The truth will reveal itself.

#5 Live LIFE to the fullest until your last breath. We truly never know when our last days will be here on this Earth.

Love Freely, Receive Love Openly, Give Willingly, Be Compassionate, and Be Cautious of the words that you say to others for you can never take them back.

Love,

Simply Ebony

#roderickdunston @roderickdunston #rip #strokesurvivor #HeartLove #HeartMonth

#Sponsoraheart

#DontIgnoretheSigns

#RoderickDunstonFoundation

Are You Living Your Life’s Purpose?

It was just two years ago I lost my cousin Tarik Shaw. I called him Lump Lump. He was my age so it truly hit home. Never would I have imagined that our family would lose our loved one so soon. We were in our mid-30s, at that point in life you feel invincible like you will live forever. We had just lost his Grandmother, my Aunt Ruby not too many years ago to Breast Cancer. His death reminded me of a few things: Live life to the fullest. You never know when you will take your last breath. Treat others with love and compassion. One thing that is for certain my cousin was loved throughout the community. His friends and all of our family came out in full force to honor his legacy.

Are you truly living out your purpose? What do you want your legacy to be once you are gone? How do you want to be remembered?

#SayHerName Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam Found Dead in Hudson River

#SayHerName I’m sitting here reading the stories about the death of Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the first black woman to serve on New York State’s highest court. Judge Abdus-Salaam was found dead Wednesday in the Hudson River. The police alleged that she died of an apparent suicide. One thing that is alarming is that both her mother and brother committed suicide. Mental health issues are definitely an issue in our community. My CSI radar is going off rapidly though. It is very odd that this trailblazer judge, her mother and brother all died from suicide in a fairly short period? I think this case should be thoroughly investigated for foul play.

Here is an excerpt from The NY Times story: In the hours after her body was found, the police said they were treating her death as a suicide. The judge, 65, had recently told friends and a doctor that she was suffering from stress. And tragedy had followed her closely: On Easter in 2012, her mother committed suicide at age 92, according to two law enforcement officials. Two years later, around the same holiday, her brother shot himself to death, the officials said.” https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nytimes.com/2017/04/13/nyregion/sheila-adbus-salaam-new-york-judge-hudson-river-committed-suicide.amp.html

I truly hope that the New York Police Department conducts a thorough investigation to determine if her death was a possible homicide. The entire situation is sad. May Judge Abdus-Salaam Rest In Peace.