Jerome Bernard Houston - Sitio Web Conmemorativo En Línea

You taught me how to ride a bike, you came to my defense, you showed me little things like how to subtract the numbers you're trying to add to get the answer you're looking for, you read me stories at bedtime and made forts with me, every little thing added up to mean the most to me, you were my dad, I miss you and I love you, forever

December 26,2015 Happy Birthday my friend!!! Today you would have been 37 ...my how time flies. One of my fondest memories of Jerome was when we went to Goshen Scout Camp and Jerome, Sean, Chris Doyle and a few others decided they wanted to play a devilish trick on me. As I slept in my tent they snuck in and put toothpaste in the palms of my hands and began to tickle my nose so that I would go to rub my nose and smear it all over myself lol... Always a prankster... I miss him so... Jerome was my bestfriend.. Love you man

I remember the day that I met Jerome.  I was 11 or 12 years old.  He was working at Taco Bell with my older sister Zondria.  So...me and my dad went to Taco Bell to pick up Zondria as she was off of work.  I go inside to get my big sis and I look and see the most gorgeous light skinned guy, Jerome.  I instantly had my first little crush.  And on that day, I was wearing black biker shorts and a black and white polka dot shirt (Hey it was the 90's).  And then Zondria told me that Jerome "liked" my outfit.  I never told anybody but I would be so excited if dad ever asked me to ride and get Zondria because I might get to see Jerome.  As time passed and the family grew closer to Jerome, he became my older brother and I loved him a lot.  But whenever I think of him, I always think of black and white polka dots.  You are gone but never forgotten.  I love you, Your little sister

One of our best moments as a family together was riding all of the rides at Universal Studios! I didn't know if I had one or two kids with me that day. Between you and Aeriel with the water gun fights to rolling in the bouncy balls. We rode ALL of the rides and I don'r know who screamed the loudest you or her..ha.. The both of you were being silly! We stayed soooo long at that park. We were there from the time it opened until the time it closed! I was sun burnt, tired and you along with Ari was past being burnt you two were toasted! We had a great day that day and a LONG ride back home to Jacksonville,FL coming from Orlando. I am so glad that we shared many memories together. We were blessed with a beautiful baby who is and will be loved by everyone. Your daughters misses their daddy and so do I and there isn't a day that goes by that we don't share our memories about our family adventures. Love you always, Wife and daughters. Muah! Kisses to you in heaven.

Today is May 6, 2009. It is one year since Jerome died, May 6, 2008, 11:55 pm. The official date is May 7, 2008. That is when his death was recorded by the doctors at the hospital. But those of us who were there know differently. We were each in a different place in our minds as we waited for the end. I felt as if I was in a sort of limbo. I understood how waiting for a birth takes time. It never occurred to me that waiting for a death takes time as well. At first I did not want to be there during the dying process. I did not think I could bear it. Now I am glad I was there. Not so much for me as for Jerome. It never occurred to me that he would open his eyes before he died. He got to see that he did not die alone, his family was there. It was a comfort to me that he was comforted to know that we were there. He opened his eyes briefly, I am certain he saw us. He did not speak. I believe he would have spoken if he was able. He closed his eyes, and with one last breath Jerome's life was over.

Jerome and his sisters built a treehouse in the backyard. They were very excited about it. They wanted to have lunch in their treehouse. So I gave them each a plate of spaghetti and sent them outside. Suddenly, Jerome appeared at my side, silent, with a plate filled with black spaghetti! On his face was that pitiful look he would get when something didn't go right. I am standing there looking at this presentation. It just would not register in my mind what I was looking at. Jerome spoke, I dropped my spaghetti. He was nearly in tears. Not a problem I said. We'll just rinse it off. But there will be no sauce on it, he said. We'll just put on more sauce, I said. His face brightened. He realized he would not "starve" at lunch time today. After making everything right again, Jerome joined his sisters for lunch in the treehouse. Memory from Mom

For many years Jerome wanted to stay up on New Year's Eve. He just wanted to see what happens. Knowing what I know about New Year's Eve, I always sent him to bed. His dad and I usually went to church on New Year's Eve. Well, one year ( I think Jerome was in middle school) as we (Jerome's parents) were leaving for church Jerome asked if he could stay up for New Year's Eve.( He always asked every year) I told him he could stay up. When we returned from church, Jerome was asleep. The next morning I asked Jerome about staying up on New Year's Eve. He was so disappointed. Nothing happened he said. What did you think was going to happen I asked him. I don't know, I thought SOMETHING would happen, he said. He looked so disappointed. By this time I could hardly contained my laughter, but I held tight. For some reason the more serious Jerome was, the more comical the situation became. Well, I said to Jerome, now you know why I always sent you to bed; because nothing happens on New Years Eve. He went away, I believe, a wiser young man, realizing once again that Mom knows best! Memory from Mom

Some of my best and hardest laughs of my life were when I was growing up with Jerome.   I was thinking of a time when our Mother let us eat our dinner outside in our tree house.  Well Jerome was walking to the tree house and stumbled and his plate of spaghetti fell on the ground.  Now most children would have just left the spaghetti on the ground but Jerome picks up the spaghetti, puts it on his plate and brings it back into the house.  To my shock and dismay my mom rinses the spaghetti off , gives him more sauce and off Jerome goes to eat his dinner in the tree house.   Jerome was just happy that mom once again fixed his problem and he got to eat his spaghetti.

I was thinking of the time when Jerome lived in Italy.  Renee was in GA and Madeline was due any day.  We were all excited to greet the newest addition to the Houston family.   Dad, Mom and I drove through the night.  Matt was in Atlanta and was just a few hours away and we all were headed to see that baby girl.  Jerome had called Renee (I think) and told her he would be there.  I don't know how we wll arrived at just the right time but sure enough as soon as we got there Renee went into labor.  So, Mom and Dad went in the room with Renee.  Jerome and I waited out in the waiting room.  We then decide to pay her a visit only to open the door and have Renee tell us to "GET OUT, ONLY MOM AND DAD!" she was in so much pain.  Jerome as he does gets all drama on me and he says " I flew thousands of miles to see this baby and she kicks me out!"  I just remember laughing so hard he was so serious and excited to meet Madeline. That's Jerome thou he loved us all and woulld always be there for us. I miss him!

Today, December 7, 2008, your daughter's birthday was celebrated. It is the first of many birthdays she will celebrate without her Daddy. I could not help wonder what would you have given her for her birthday. I could easily picture you holding the pinata as the children tried to open it. You would have been unpacking her new favorite toy, Wall-E. You would have laughed at her antics while everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to her. I know she misses you. We will help her to always remember you, her Daddy.

Love and Music - Jerome had such a crush on his violin teacher! During his first year of lessons, as Christmas was approaching I asked Jerome, "What would you like to give your teacher for Christmas?" Without hesitation he replied,"Purple earrings! Purple heart shaped earrings!" "Purple earrings? Why purple earrings?" I asked. He answered, "Because she has purple clothes but no purple earrings!" So I shopped around until I found purple heart shaped earrings, at K-Mart! - Here Kitty, Kitty! - Jerome was a very little boy (3years old) when we lived in the country. Lyons, Georgia was about 18 miles from Vidalia, Georgia. While his siblings were at school I would send Jerome outdoors to play. We had a kitten named Butterscotch. Jerome would play with the kitten. On this particular day I was washing dishes while Jerome played outside. As I stood at the kitchen sink which faced the window I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. "What was that?" I wondered. There, I saw it again. I decided I better take a look outside and see just what was going on. I stood at the door silently, watching Jerome call to the kitten. Then he picked up Butterscotch and tossed him into the air. Well, as cats will do, Butterscotch flips in mid air and lands on his feet. Jerome again calls to the kitten and the cat comes to him, he picks up the kitten to repeat the act. Well, he nearly jumped three feet off the ground when I finally spoke. "Why are you tossing the kitten into the air. (he did not realize I had been watching him) "I just wanted to see it flip over in the air", he said. I told him not to toss the cat into the air anymore. As I went back to my dishes, I couldn't help wondering about the cat. I don't know how long Jerome had been tossing the cat into the air, but the stupid cat kept coming back for more!

Sunday September 7, 2008 The saddest day of my life was not the day Jerome died. It was the day he was admitted to ICU for the last time. I walked with his father into his hospital room that morning and saw him struggling to speak. He was making sounds but no words would come forth. He could not open his mouth. I could see in his face that he was scared and did not understand what was happening to him. I could see in his eyes that he wanted to say something but was unable. I felt so helpless as a mother! I wanted to make things better but I could not. I tried to calm him down and keep him calm. I told him I knew he wanted to speak, but he was unable. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion while we waited for transportation to come to take Jerome to ICU. The doctor became inpatient waiting for transportation and she decided to move him to ICU herself. Jerome's father and I followed her. I wanted to believe that everything would be alright, but in my heart I knew I would never hear his voice again. When the phone rings there will be no bass laden voice saying "Hey! What's going on?" the way he used to. His was the voice that stuttered when he was a child. His was the voice that told me of his adventures (and misadventures) in the Navy. His was the voice that asked me "serious" questions that made me laugh. His was the voice that told me his life plans. I still cry when I think of that day, the day my baby boy could not speak. I miss you Jerome. I love you Jerome. Mom

One of my best memories of Jerome is when I use to get upset with him, he would always sing, "If you think you lonely now, wait until tonight girl." LOLOL.....I heard the song on the radio and I thought of him......LOLOL. Jerome brought so much joy and laughter to my life. I couldn't stay upset with him for too long because he always found a way to make a joke out of every situation. We would stay on the phone and talk for hours and I would just laugh at all his jokes. He would always tell stories of his family and his childhood. I miss you Jerome!!

 One of my favorite memories is the night Jerome, Ray, Renee, and myself were all hanging out at Grandma's house with Carol.  Carol wanted to make us a cake ( She was always cooking for us) she baked the cake and fell asleep ( I think).  So the boys smelled that it was ready and pulled the cake out and put it in the freezer to "cool off" pan and all. Carol comes back looking for the cake and she could not find it.  She was so upset about the cake and the more angry she got the funnier it was. We laughed so hard that night.  The next day the boys went to the store to buy new cake stuff and we made Carol a new cake.  Jerome is such a huge part of us " the kids" as we were called.  It is so hard to think that he is no longer here with us.  I am so grateful for all the memories I have! That boy always made us all laugh.

That devilish smile will be missed. For all the times I confronted you about coming downstairs and backing up all the bragging about you dominoe game , you would come up with many excuses not to...I was sure you were fronting and couldnt really play. To my surprised you show up one day and beat me down in my own house!  A lesson was surely taught that day....lol.

 

RIP dawg....

Jerome truly was a gem.  I think I've always had a special place in my heart for him because he reminds me so much of his uncle, my husband, Ray.  They are so much a like, in so many ways.  One of my funny memories of Jerome was when he was still in Norfolk at the Navel hospital, just before he was about to go to Texas.  We were visiting him and watching the things that were being done to him by the nurses.  His cousin Sharlene is actually studying to be a nurse, so of course, she's watching and taking everything in as to what should and shouldn't be done according to what she's learning in her classes.  The nurse was doing something to Jerome's IV and administering medication and left some of the trash behind, which according to Sharlene was a definite no-no.  So I said to Jerome, do you want me to say something to this nurse about her leaving her trash, etc...etc...  With the most sterness of a voice, which was so surprising and unlike Jerome's mild spirit, he said "Don't Say A Word".  We all just cracked up laughing because it was so funny, I mean really hillarious because I expected him to say possibly say just "no", but he said "Don't Say A Word".  He then said, I have to continue to be here with these people when you're gone, so no.  It was really funny.  We will all miss Jerome dearly.  Acts 24:15 tells us that there is going to be a resurrection of the righteous, right here on a paradise earth, with perfection, security and happiness.  Psm. 37: 11, 29.  The bible also tells us that there will come a time where there will be no more sorrow, outcry or pain and that even death will be nor more. Revelation 21:4.  What a wonderful time to look forward to where we will be reunited, forever.

One of my favorite memories of Jerome was when we were kids . We lived in Georgia and Jerome had made friends with the dog next door. It is somewhat of a faded memory because we are 14months apart but recall this cute little boy and the cuttest little dog. That is when I knew he would always be a sweet boy. In fact we nick named him "Teddy Bear Boy". Jerome and I had a close relationship. We were so close in age that we were always in school together. When our older sister and brother moved out of the house it was just the two of us.  During our last years of highschool we went to the same games, parties, and of course the mall. Jerome had great taste and helped me pick out many outfits. For a little brother  he was too cool! Then he went off to the Navy and I was so proud of him. I still laugh when I think about his stories of being sea sick.  I would just laugh and say " if you knew you got sea sick why did you join the Navy?" He would just make that face and we would laugh some more. There is a recent memory that brings tears to my eyes. I will never foregot visiting him in the hospital and giving him Julian's and my wedding invitation. He opened it so slowly and he got very quite. In that silent moment I knew he was too sick to come. I then knew it was getting close to time for him to go home with God. He just said "I'll be there". After the wedding I heard that he tried to get the doctors to pump him up with platelets so he could come home for the wedding. That boy is so crazy! I know now that he was in so much pain and suffering at that time.  I will always remember how selfless he was.  Here is a picture of us that day in the hospital he was so sick but still had that  Jerome smile  on his face. Truly Amazing!

One of my best memories of Jerome is his easy smile and his sense of humor.  He could always make me laugh.  Jerome came to stay with me for a while a few days before September 11th and we had the best time.  We went to Savannah and hung out, had a caraciture drawn of the both of us and I will always cherish the time that we spent together as adults.  It broke my heart to see him suffering the way that he was and when I found out that I was a match to him to be a donor I was on a mission.  Sadly, I never got the chance to give him the gift of a new chance at life, God had other plans.  Thanks for the memories Jerome there are too many to really have room to share.  Most of all thanks for being the best little brother any girl could have.  I love you! and I will see ya!