Jillian-Rey Catherine, the daughter of Gregory & Kendra, was a smart five year old bundle of energy and joy who continues to amaze all around her. She loved to entertain family and friends by performing self-choreographed praise dances and singing her favorite Beyonce’ songs especially “Love on Top.” Affectionately called Golden Girl and Scoot by her grandfathers, Jilli loved to learn. The early beginnings of her education began under her beloved Mrs. Bailey whom she still adores. In her free time, she enjoyed running fast as lightning; singing any gospel song that came on the radio; spending time with her brother-cousin, Joel; playing golf with her Daddy; cooking dinner with Mommy; and visiting Frankie’s Fun Park and the beach with her family. Like most kids, Jilli loved to eat Happy Meals at McDonald’s or a home-cooked spaghetti dinner with a salad that is topped with lots of Ranch dressing. In the mornings, she was often treated to pancakes (her favorite), bacon and eggs cooked by her Daddy. She also loved to eat all types of fruit and vegetables, especially those that made her “muscles bigger.” Jilli’s favorite treats included ice cream, plain M&Ms, and Reese’s Cups that were introduced to her at an early age when she started “cookie time” with Granddaddy Elton. She was a true girly-girl and she loved the color hot pink; insisted that her ponytail and shoelaces be super tight; loved playing dress-up in her Mommy’s closet; and requested her nails be painted with vivid colors as often as possible. With an amazing sense of style, she refused to leave home unless her outfit was "just right!" Starting from the time she was a toddler, Jilli faithfully ended her day with her parents reading a bedtime story to her and sending up her own beautiful prayers to the One she knows who loves her most, our glorious and magnificent God. In October of 2013, our mighty God cradled Jilli as she successfully underwent a craniotomy to remove a malignant brain tumor that had plagued her with headaches and fevers for nearly two months. Praise be to God, her neurosurgeon, Dr. Herbert Fuchs, and his team removed it completely. In November and December, Jilli endured six weeks of treatment therapy prescribed and managed by the awesome medical staff at both Duke Pediatrics and Duke Cancer Center, and we were ever so grateful that her first MRI scan after treatment showed no signs of recurrence. Jilli lived and loved for 9 years, before surrounded by her family and the angels, she passed peacefully into the loving hands of her Heavenly Father on Saturday, May 19, 2018.