On Valentine's Day of 2002, an angel was born. That angel was you. I wish I could have known you. I would have held onto you very tight, for your beautiful face would be worth many sleepless nights. I would have wiped your tears and kissed you on your ...cheeks. I would have showed you what being loved truly means. The earth lost a precious soul in July, thousands still ask the question why. I hear Heaven is Beautiful. I bet it is even more equisite now that you are there. Your pain and suffering has diminished, you no longer have fear. Be free my love, use your angel wings and soar. Pain is something you will have no more. You would have been 9 years old. I bet your angel wings really grew. I wonder if you feel the love that so many people have for you. Your beautiful eyes are shining bright. No more fear and dark cold nights. Your short life on earth brought much needed change and many other babies have been saved in your name . Your death will not be in vain my dear. I hope tonight Jesus holds you near. A bond with you little one, we will always share. When I kiss my daughter I will give her an extra kiss for you. When music plays I will save a dance for you too. My angel up in Heaven, the girl I wish I knew. Brianna Mariah Lopez, a little life taken far too soon.        

 

Somethings are worth fighting for, Somethings cannot be ignored. Always the right thing to do, Is to take a stand, For the, Black & Blue Debra Halloway

This memorial website was created to remember our dearest Brianna Mariah Lopez who was born on February 14th, 2002 and flew to heaven on July 19th, 2002. You will live forever in our hearts.

 

 

A whole future,

So many dreams

Taken away

 

 

 

 

 

Our Little Angel

 

God saw you getting tired. When help was not to be,
He closed his arms around you and whispered, "Come to Me".
In tears we saw you sinking. We watched you fade away.
Our hearts were almost broken, you fought so hard to stay.
But when we saw you sleeping so peacefully free from pain,
We could not wish you back to suffer so again.
So keep your arms around her Lord, and give her special care.
Make up for all she suffered and all that seemed unfair.

 

 

 

 

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God shall wipe all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away.   
- Revelation 21:4

 

 

Brianna's Story

 

Her death

At only 5months old, Baby Brianna suffered a 5 months of horrific child abuse. Born to parents who never understood their blessing, Brianna was bitten, pinched and raped in her own home. Her mother Stephanie Lopez admitted to biting Brianna, throwing Brianna when she became mad and pinching Brianna. Her father also admitted to doing the same things as Stephanie but he and Brianna’s uncle were also guilty of raping Baby Brianna.

   The night before Baby Brianna died, her uncle and father threw her up in the air, then they didn’t catch her, letting her slam to the floor.

   Another Uncle and a grandmother, who lived in that house, knew what was happening to Brianna but they did nothing to help her.

 

 

 Even in death her family attempts to cover up what happened to her.

“Though the community raised thousands of dollars to help the family pay for a funeral and memorial, family members rejected the gesture, and the money. They buried her privately, quickly and quietly in a cemetery excluding even some family members from attending. Shortly thereafter, the dirt mound above the grave was raked flat, and the identification marker was removed.

The marker was later returned. But when people who had never met Brianna repeatedly visited the grave site to leave flowers and honor the child, the family built a locked, metal enclosure around the grave site.

A ceramic, cherubic angel, with its right index finger in front of its lips, tells those who pass by to keep quiet.”

 

 

   Even in her short life, no one ever took the time to stop and take a picture of her. The only pictures of Brianna was taken before her autopsy by a detective. Her took the picture of her bruised and battered face, then adjusted it so the bruises and scars of her life were gone.

 

 

 

What should have been

 

I, like so many others, are left heart broken over Brianna’s story. I believe that just like too many Angels that have died from abuse, we were cheated out of Brianna’s life. She had a whole future ahead of her. She could have been the one to cure cancer. Stop poverty but we will never know. Brianna should have had a family to love her, take care of her, and guide her in life. When I see children living their life and enjoying their childhood my heart aches knowing Brianna was cheated out of hers. She should have started pre-school but Brianna will never get to wear that cap and gown.  Brianna should have grown up in a loving home, surrounded by people who love her. Brianna should still be here

 

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