Trena Sheri McDowell

Trena Sheri McDowell, 39, of Hemet, California, passed away on April 30, 2014. Trena was a free spirited woman, wife, and mother taken from us way too soon. She enjoyed life and spending it with her family and much loved friends. 

A native San Diegan, Trena attended Knox, Audubon, and Fulton Elementary Schools; Keiller Middle School; and, Lincoln High School. Trena loved styling hair—from altering the hair of elementary school classmates on picture day, to fixing friends up for the senior prom in high school. 

She fulfilled her dream and became a licensed cosmetologist two weeks after graduating from Bay Vista Beauty College in 1997. After providing total hair care to clients for ten years with Artistic Trends and Gold Comb, Trena became an instructor for the Bellus Academy (formerly Je Boutique), where she helped educate the next generation of beauty and wellness professionals. She then continued her career at the Imperial Barber Shop, 

Balancing family life with her career, Trena supported her children’s activities by volunteering with South Bay Pop Warner and Morse High School Cheerleaders. 

Trena is survived by her children: La’Shanae Steward, Char’Tre Steward, Isaiah Thompson, and Breelyn McDowell; her grandson, Cameron King; her parents, Sherida Felders of Hemet, California, James Brown III of San Diego, California; her grandparents, Lorenzo Neabors of Hemet, California, Trennie Grau of San Diego, California, James Brown, Jr. (Genise), of Atlanta, Georgia; her brothers, James Brown IV of Fort Collins, Colorado, Tracy (Blanca) Brown of San Diego, California, Deron (Eurica) Brown of Houston, Texas; her sister, Kesha (Anthoney) Hill of Fort Collins, Colorado; nephews, Bakir Madyun, III, Deron Brown, Jr., Jeremiah and Jordan Brown; nieces, Kiara Madyun, Déja Hill, DeAnn Johnson, Carlita Brown, China Murillo, Linda, Laila, and Keyara Brown; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and long-time friends. 

Mommy I Love You. Loosing you is the hardest thing I’ve ever have to go through, but I will do everything I planned and beyond just to make you proud. I can’t fathom the thought of you not being here. I pray that you will watch over Cameron and me. I regret any hard times I’ve ever put you through. I’ve apologized a million times before and even though I still have my grandma, aunts and uncles, family and friends; no one can replace the love, strength, and wisdom you have given me. You were my best friend. I would teach you new dances, tell you about my problems, or just sit there, eat ice cream and watch Family Feud with you. I will miss my baby waking up and walking in your room and yelling mom to you. I know you will be here every step. I am SO much stronger now. You had to leave us and be with Our Father. Even though I’m deeply hurt, I am honored to call you my personal Angel. I know you will never hurt again. God is Love. I love you Mommy. Your oldest Baby. 

Throughout my whole 18 years of life you have truly sacrificed your all to give me the best things in this world. I have never met a mother as strong, outgoing, beautiful, selfless, independent, and educated like the one I have. I love you mom so much and I would have literally gave you anything in this world. You are my best friend and no one can every replace you, or the love we have for each other. You will always be my number one queen. Rest in peace, my heart and my world. 

Dear Mom, I love you so much. I know we had ups and downs but whatever happened we got through it together. I wish you would’ve gone to the hospital earlier but I know God has a plan for you up in heaven. I miss you already and will continue to. I will miss your sense of humor and personality the most and how you were always the life of the party. I’m glad we patched things up before you passed and I was able to tell you I love you, if not I would probably be dying inside. But anyways, I love you and hope you rest in peace. 

Mom, I miss you so much. I wish you were home. Everyone misses you because you’re gone. I was crying when I heard you were gone. I’m bored without you. Because you are fun, all my friends like you, because you were nice, fun, awesome, beautiful. You missed your chocolate because you’re gone and I said if somebody eats your chocolate they’re going to get beat up, because it is yours and you paid for it and you’re gone. I think about you all the time at school and I take breaks as school when I am sad sometimes. I cry when I miss you. I think about you all the time because you’re my mom and my best friend. You will always be my best friend and the best mom in the world. I want you home so bad, you do not know how bad it is. It is so bad. Are you watching me right now cause that’s cool if you are. Well, I will not forget about you. Love, Breelyn 

Five Things I Learned From My Baby Sister Live life to the fullest. From the day she was born until she took her last breath, my baby sister lived life as if each day was her last. She lived life to the fullest and always had gatherings at her house whether it was a fight, football game, holiday or just because. She loved being around family, friends and anyone who she vibed with. Keep it one hunid. You will not find anyone realer than my baby sister. Trena was the same person no matter where you saw her or what she was doing. The onus was on you to accept her for who she was, and it was more than likely that they accepted her. Keep it moving forward. Trena was always working to better herself and her situation for her family. Providing for her kids was her first priority. She didn’t stay down for too long when life happened. Her tenacity to achieve her goals was amazing. Never stop laughing. Trena was one of the funniest people that I have ever met. She always had a smile on her face and a joke in her back pocket. She was easily one of the funniest people that I have ever met. Her personality was infectious and if you were down, she would pick you up with something incredibly funny. Don’t give up the fight. Trena was a born fighter: spiritually, literally, and figuratively. She was a fiercely loyal person who went to great lengths to protect and support her family and friends. Loyalty was the thread in which she weaved a web of love and friendship. 

What Trena Means to Me: Terrific: Mother, Daughter, Sister, and Grandmother Realist: Never fake, always stay true to yourself and others. Excellent: At all task you had to conquer & taking care of your family. Natural: Pro at doing hair and teaching. You had skills Sis. Awesome: Just being You. Great person to be around, talk to, hang out with, and so on. I will never forget you lil Sis. I will always keep your memory alive. I love you with all my heart. You will be missed but never forgotten. 

Trena-Tre, We shared a room, YOU shared my clothes, and we even shared thoughts...why do I have to stop now? I can’t and don’t want to accept that you’re gone. As much as I know you are okay, it’s still tough. Now, I’m faced with having my mac and cheese be compared to yours & Grandma’s...that’s not fair. I would give my leg, lung, and heart to have you back. Knowing that you were happy brings my heart peace and joy! I miss you, I miss you, I miss you, but I love you so much more. Rest in (and with) the Lord! 

Trena 

I miss you so much. I remember the first time I saw your face, it was love at first sight. Words can’t express the way that I feel now that you are gone. My heart hurts every hour of the day that you are not here. You are such a beautiful soul with a beautiful smile. Now you are in the Lords hands and He will protect you. I miss you baby. I love you with all my heart. Larry 

Joy & Pain I take JOY in knowing I was your only baby brother. I enJOYed the times we were able to spend together. Although we were miles apart, it was always a JOY to hear your voice. We could talk for hours and never run out of things to talk about. We helped each other thru some tough times, and I will use your JOY to make it thru this one... 

I am in PAIN right now. But unlike any other PAIN, this PAIN will never go away. I feel PAIN cause I didn’t take that extra minute of my time to make another phone call to you. I feel PAIN cause I didn’t take the time to see you more when I had the opportunity. 

But I will take the JOY and conquer this PAIN. Your smile, your laugh, your wonderful spirit is forever in my memory. Your leaving the physical may cause PAIN, but your physical was all JOY!!!! LOVE ALWAYS AND FOREVER, YOUR ONLY BABY BRO - “Ronny Ron” 

To My Boo, Words can’t even express the way that I’m feeling right now. I am in a state of disbelief. Such a beautiful soul gone too soon. While I am hurting, I find myself smiling and laughing about all of the memories that I was blessed to share with you. You were the life of the family. We shared so many moments together laughing, smiling, and enjoying being in each others presence. 

You have been more than an aunt to me and the thought of not hearing your jokes and laughter breaks my heart. But I feel better knowing that you are in a better place. I smile knowing that I have gained a new guardian angel. No one will ever replace what you have been to me. I will never forget your one of a kind personality and unique sense of humor. You had such an open heart. You are truly one in a million. 

I will miss all the days and nights we spent together. You are such a beautiful woman inside and out. I thank you for all the unforgettable times we shared and all the memories that you leave me with. I have a space in my heart only for YOU! It hurts me to have to let you go, but I know that God has something so much better for you. I try not to question God but this one is hard to accept. I will forever love you and you will be missed. Though you are gone, you will never be forgotten. I love you Boo. Please watch over me until we meet again. Loving you eternally, Your Boo,Kiara 

Dear Auntie Trena, 

I never thought I’d be here writing you this letter under the circumstances that we are all under. You’ve been the greatest aunt to me. You’ve always been able to bring good times and put a smile on my face. I’m not the only one who believes this when I say, your presence will truly be missed, although I know you’re not gone entirely. Your spirit is still all around us. I can tell because through the hurt that we’ve felt, we’re still able to joke around and have fun. I know that what you would’ve wanted was for us all to be happy and have a good time anyway. It’s never easy saying “Goodbye” and in this situation it’s even harder. But I know that where you are now is a better place than here. I will miss you and I love you from the moon and back. I love you Auntie Trena. I love you so much. -Déja aka Suga-Free 

Don’t Cry for Me 

Here We Are Again, That Old Familiar Place; Where the Winds Will Blow, No One Ever Knows the Time Nor Space. 

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