LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
"The Aaliyah Monique Mayes Memorial Scholarship Fund" was established May 2021in loving memory of our precious grandaughter Aaliyah, who passed away suddenly following a tragic accident while on vacation with family. AALIYAHS' STORY...
“Let Your Light Shine” The Aaliyah Monique Mayes Memorial Scholarship Fund is a scholarship program established May 15, 2020; available
to a graduating senior of Festus R-VI High School, the school where Aaliyah would have graduated from on June 26, 2020. on September 08, 2001 at Ireland Army Community Hospital in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, ‘three days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks’, God blessed Brandon & Monique (James) Mayes, a newly married couple from the small community of Festus, Missouri, with a 5 lb.15 oz. bouncing baby girl, who they would call “Aaliyah Monique.” Aaliyah, soon to be passionately know by her family and friends as LeLe, was 18 7/8 inches long, a picture perfect and profound creation from God. Aaliyah was the first child born to Monique, but Brandon had a son, Brenden Joseph, who was born six years prior from a previous relationship. What a lucky little girl Aaliyah was; she was born into the world with a big brother, ready and willing to be the best big brother a girl could ever ask for. Shortly after in 2002, Aaliyah and her parents, were blessed once again with another bundle of joy; baby sister Olivia Marie was born. Aaliyah was a happy child, full of life, spunk and character. Aaliyah loved watching cartoons, one of her favorites being, “Sponge Bob Square Pants.” Aaliyah attended Immanuel Lutheran Pre-School from 2003-2007. She began her first year of “big girl” school on August 16, 2007 at Festus R-VI Elementary School, in Festus, Missouri. Aaliyah graduated kindergarten on May 23, 2008. Aaliyah loved having fun, playing with her sister, brother and many cousins and friends. In September of 2007, another blessing was about to come to the Mayes house, once again Aaliyah would become a big sister; this time to baby sister, Amelia Rose; a.k.a. Aaliyah loved her sister’s and big brother. Aaliyah and sister, Olivia, attended the “Gloria Dietrich” School of Dance, where they were becoming great little dancers. Aaliyah, also dabbled a little in soccer, playing on a league through the YMCA. In 2007, Aaliyah along with her cousin, Jahlah, cheered at the opening game for the Junior Varsity Football team at Festus High School Football Stadium. In 2008; Dad, Brandon had just purchased a little pink baseball glove, as he was getting ready to gear his first little princess up for more sports endeavors. Aaliyah was anticipating going into the first grade at Festus Elementary in the fall of 2008. Aaliyah earned her angel wings at 6:30 p.m. at Skaggs Community Health Center, on July 28, 2008. She passed away from an untimely and tragic accident while on vacation in Branson, Missouri with family; she was 6 1/2 years young. Aaliyah's family has established an annual scholarship to be awarded yearly, in her memory, so that Aaliyah's light will continue to shine and to assist a graduating senior at Festus High School to continue their education. The scholarship will focus on a graduating senior of a family who as well has encountered the loss of a child. The student must also make a difference by being a light in school and in the community; they will be required to write a two (2) page essay, expressing how after graduation, they will continue to “Let their Light Shine.”
We have created this page, because so many family and friends have expressed an interest in donating to the scholarship program in memory of Aaliyah. Person’s wishing to donate to the Aaliyah Monique Mayes Memorial Scholarship Fund can go into any of the five (5) branches of the Bloomsdale Bank’s in Missouri and mention the name of the scholarship fund, and make a personal donation; which will be tax deductible. In turn, Bloomsdale Bank will directly deposit the donation, and supply the account owners, the names and any other information possible of the donor, for receipt purposes; as the bank cannot give receipts, due to personal information printed on their stationary. Also donations can be made directly, by check or money order; at any time, payable to the “Aaliyah Mayes Memorial Scholarship Fund,”mailed to 1137 Valentine St., Festus, MO 63028-1255. Follow the Let Your Light Shine “The Aaliyah Monique Mayes Memorial Scholarship Fund” page on face book at "https://facebook.com/
F.Y.I. Information for BLOOMSDALE BANKS: 1. 100 Bailey Rd., Crystal City, MO 63019-1816, 636-931-8800; 2. 100 Scenic Dr., Herculaneum, MO 63048-1582, 636-933-2020; 3. 55 Mill Hill Rd., Bloomsdale, MO 63627-1001, 573-483-2514 or 4. 695 Center Dr., Sainte Genevieve, MO 63670-1445, 573-883-9955 and 5. 170 Plaza Drive, Sainte Genevieve, MO 63670, 573-883-9872, or you can contact them via the web at www.bloomsdalebank.com
The parents, grandparents and entire family of the late Aaliyah Monique Mayes thank you one and all for any donations made to this scholarship fund, past or future. Any monies donated to this cause will be used for the sole purpose of this scholarship program only! If you need a receipt for tax purposes, we will be more than happy to supply one for you. When Aaliyah left us 14 years ago, the entire community poured their hearts and souls out to our families and for that we will be forever grateful. We will never stop loving or missing Aaliyah, but this scholarship fund/program; that will help a graduating senior every year from here on out, will also help us to continue to heal, by knowing that although Aaliyah is no longer here with us in the flesh, her spirit and her light will continue to shine as her love and her memory lives on through this scholarship program, as well as in all of our hearts. God bless you one and all...
WHEN GOD CALLS LITTLE CHILDREN
When God calls little children to dwell with Him above,
We mortals sometimes question the wisdom of His love. For no heartache compares with the death of one small child
Who does so much to make our world seem wonderful and mild. Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to his fold,
So He picks a little rosebud before it can grow old. God knows how much we need them, so He takes but a few
To make the land of heaven more beautiful to view. Believing this is difficult; still, somehow we must try
The saddest word mankind knows will always be “goodbye”
So when a little child departs we who are left behind
Must realize God loves children… and Angels are hard to find. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
