 His legacy |
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A Beautiful Heart
Among the many good and memorable qualities that Joseph had, the ones of peace and kindness linger on and speak to me often. He wanted to make a difference in this world...to make it a better, safer, more joyful place. He wrote rap lyrics regarding, Aids, drug addiction, cigarette smoking and more. He hoped to reach out to the world with his music and make a difference. I remember when he was 13 or 14, he said to me, while spending what I thought was way too much time on break dancing, "you'll see Ma, Hip Hop is gonna be big". His prediction turns out to be very accurate, and tragically, we will never know how he could have impacted this world, but I believe that he most definitely would have.
It has been said that the child teaches the parent, and I must confess that this is true. Joseph taught me much about love, unity, patience and gentleness. These lessons came over the years but I was impacted with them after his death. I will always have a place of sadness in my heart for his loss...Yet I will always be terribly grateful for the gift of my beautiful son. If I had not been blessed with the gift of mothering someone so wonderful, I would have completely missed the boat of joy in this world that is too often filled with pain.
MERRY CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN JOSEPH!
Joseph's mom (Evelyn)
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The Walking Boy
When Joseph was about ten he participated in Staten Island's March of Dimes, twenty-five mile (or thereabouts) walkathon. After about two hours into the march, Evelyn decided to get into her car and check on him. She found him, he had gone quite a distance in 90 minutes. She pulled the car over to the curb and called him. When he approached the car she asked him how it was going. He lifted up his leg and showed her the sole of his shoe, it looked like he would have a hole in it by the end of the day. His mother asked him if he wanted to get into the car, he said no, then returned to the sidewalk. With a big smile and wave at his mother and me he continued his walk. The walk ended in the St. George area. We stood in the large municipal parking lot designated as the ending point for the walkers and I watched with awe and pride as the little boy that I knew with a head full of dark curly hair and a bright toothy smile walked through that fence. He went up to the refreshment stand that had been set up for the congregating walkers and got a hot dog and a drink. He sat down and with his drink beside him, while in the process of eating, he leaned over, took his shoe off and said, "look ma" he had a hole in his shoe...
Jo-Anne Young
Joseph's "stepmom"
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The Wooden Table
I remember when he was little and he made me a table of wood. A bread box sized table. I loved that thing but I cannot find it now. I remember when I went with him to the Y and we met Phil Jackson the Basket Ball Player who would later become coach of the Laker's. How wide eyed he was at meeting that giant of a man. I remember how later in life he believed in Jesus, though being raised in all of our skepticism, he believed. I remember how he used to send those professional beggars money, even though he didn't have much. I thought what a wonderful person he was, and didn't care that the professional beggars were probably phonies. How I wish he were still here.
Raymond Bryant (Joseph's uncle)
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A Shining Smile
I remember only a few moments about Joseph unfortunately, due to age and distance, but I remember him coming to visit Andrew and me once when we at my other Grandmothers house, and he had such a bright smile when we came down the stairs. He talked with us for a while, and we thought he was so cool to be around. I also remember once we went up to see some of his art work, and he had this big white sheet, or poster with OPP written on it in fancy letters. He painstakingly tried to explain the concept to us kids, which can be hard to do with adult music/symbols. I am sure he just made something up! But every time I hear that song I think of him, and wonder what he would have thought about the music today. I catch it on the radio almost once a month. Last Thanksgiving Andrew was in the car with me down in South Beach, and it came on the radio, and he smiled and said " remember Joseph liked that song"?
Lisa Bisogna Monserrate(Joseph's cousin)
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Spreading His Love
My thoughts of Joseph go way back when he was a cute bubbly baby sucking his thumb. He was a happy baby, and later a happy adult, always with a smile on his face. I remember a spiritual part about him that he aquired all on his own. He was respectful and loving to his family,with a special love for his mother that I always admired. He was at peace with himself, and had special artistic talents. It touched me how he tried to stay close with Andrew and Lisa, and never stopped questioning about Roy, his cousin. I remember the laughter and joking about funny things that happened with him and Andrew and Lisa. He was comical at times and I enjoyed his company. I wish I had spent more time. I love him and miss him very much.
Margaret Bryant (Joseph's aunt)
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Rest In Peace Joseph
Joseph was always a good person and it's a terrible shame what happened to him. Although I'm his uncle he treated me more like a brother, an immediate member of the family. He had a love and respect for his family that I will always remember. Whenever I pass the Perkins Restaurant, I think of him and remember when he and his mother used to live a few streets behind it. One of my memories of Joseph is how hard he worked helping his mother move, back in 1985. He was only 15 and he did the work of a man. I'm glad that an arrest and conviction finally happened regarding his murder...although it took a while in coming, it is a peaceful feeling knowing that justice has finally been done.
Earl Bryant (Joseph's uncle)
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My Memories of Joseph
1)Funny---- Joseph was about 4 years old and I decided to take him Trick or Treating. All was going well as we went up and down the street getting candy. I don't remember what costume he was wearing but it was during the time his front teeth were missing and he looked so cute. Well we arrived at the house of this old women and she came out with a bowel of apples. Joseph freaked out; "OHHHH NOOOOO my mommy said NO APPLES" backing up so she couldn't put one in his bag. His face was so funny, the poor lady said "OK, OK, I have candy." I was about 13 at the time and I think that was the first time I was ever embarrssed.
2) Funny ---- I remember Joseph singing at Post Avenue, "One In A Million You". It is one of those songs that is hard to sing, the voice goes up and down. He was trying so hard to get it right and he didn't know I was in the other room asleep. So when I woke up it scared the hell out of him as he was so intent on singing. Also it was really weird that I liked the same song myself and also tried to sing it.
3) Personal thoughts
I miss Joseph very much. He was my friend and we hung out a little, maybe not always doing what was right, but we had fun and that's what counts. All the memories I have will always be with me, some good, some bad and sad. When I think of Joseph I often wonder what he would be doing now as a grown man. I'm sure he would be doing his art and probably cutting some record deals with Snoop Dog! What ever he would have done, I'm sure he would have been happy with it, he was that kind of person - good inside.
Dorothy Bryant (Joseph's aunt)
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Candlelight Vigil
I miss Joseph and sometimes think about him during our holiday gatherings. He was a good person and I am glad that I am his uncle.
Every year in April, I attend Crime Victims Annual Candlelight Vigil in his honor. Evelyn reads names from the stage and Gladys performs during the name reading. It is a sad, yet a nice time to remember Joseph and I always enjoy being there with my candle.
Harold Bryant (Joseph's uncle)
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