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MY SON
MY ANGEL
MY HEART
5/18/2009
"I noticed how beautiful the sky was the other day and then I realized it's because you're up there"
This memorial website was created in the memory of our beautiful son, Brandon Killingsworth who blessed us on May 18, 1983 in Charleston, West Virginia and who went to be with our Lord and Saviour in Yemassee, South Carolina on November 24, 2004 and the age of 21. We will remember him forever and we will always love him.
In Brandon's memory always - Melissa
November 24, 2004
HONORING YOUR LIFE ON YOUR 26TH BIRTHDAY
OUR SON, OUR ANGEL, OUR HERO
LOVE,
MOM, DAD, KATIE AND EMILY
BRANDON
YOU ARE MY VALENTINE
MY HEAVEN SENT VALENTINE
FEBRUARY 14, 2008
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
Dear Mr. Hallmark,
I am writing you from Heaven
and though it must appear
a rather strange idea
I see everything from here.
I just popped in to visit
your stores to find a card;
a card of love for my mom
as this day for her is hard
There must be some mistake, I thought,
every card you could imagine
except I could not find a card
from a child who lives in Heaven.
She is still a mom, too,
no matter where I reside,
I had to leave, she understands
but oh, the tears she has cried.
I thought that if I wrote to you
that you would come to know
that though I live in Heaven now
I still love my mom so.
She talks with me and dreams with me
we still share laughter, too
Memory's our way of speaking now,
would you see what you could do?
My mom carries me in her heart
her tears she hides from sight,
she writes poems to honor me
sometimes far in to the night.
She plants pretty flowers in my garden
there my living memory dwells
she writes to other grieving parents
trying to ease their pain as well.
So you see, Mr. Hallmark
though I no longer live on earth
I must find a way
to remind her of her wonderous worth.
She needs to be honored
and she needs to be remembered, too
Just like the children on earth
that on today will do.
Thank you, Mr. Hallmark
I know that you will do your best
I have done all that I can do
to you, I'll leave the rest.
Find a way to tell her
how much she means to me
until I can do it for myself
when she joins me in eternity.
Love you always, Mom
Brandon
Brandon, would you please make sure that your grandmas have a wonderful Mother's Day and let them know we love and miss them so much. This is for them from all of us. We love you Mom.
CHRISTMAS 2007
This is your Christmas tree, Brandon.
With love always,
Mom & Dad
Since 2005, I have put up a Christmas tree just for Brandon. I started with a 3 foot tree but it was clear during that first year that it wasn't going to be big enough as the years went by. Therefore, I purchased a 6 1/2 foot Christmas tree this year and I hope it will be big enough for awhile. You see, I buy ornaments for Brandon each year, special ones and we hang them on his tree. Since I started that tradition, I have received ornaments from so many who love our Brandon-beginning with his sisters, Katie and Emily who gave their dad and me the ornament "spending Christmas with Jesus this year", from our dear friend Dennis who also gave us the ornament "spending Christmas with Jesus this year", his fraternity brothers - Pi Kappa Phi, his dean, Dean Anita of Lenoir Rhyne College, from friends of ours who had an ornament made from his high school, Eau Gallie High School, and this year I received an ornament from the President of Lenoir Rhyne College. The first Christmas I received ornaments from Shannon. I guess that may be when I decided to start this tradition. Brandon loved Christmas. He loved the festivities, decorating the tree, baking and eating all the cookies and candies from recipes handed down from my mom (Russian teaballs and peanut butter fudge were his favorites). He loved going shopping with me just a few days before Christmas. He would carry the packages around for me until they were too much and then he would haul them off to the car and come back for more. He would sit in the junior section of the department stores with me while his sisters tried on countless outfits and though he would complain we always ended up laughing about it. We always went to Christmas Eve services as a family. I miss him being there with us on Chistmas Eve - but he is not really not there, is he? Christmas morning was always such a fun time. Living in Florida, many times we would have warm Christmases so when that happened we would turn the a/c down real low, make the house cold, make some hot chocolate and open up our presents. So much fun! Many of those traditions ceased to be the year of 2004 but I have started new ones and I will continue to add new traditions to our family as it increases with husbands and grandchildren one day. However, the one tradition I will continue until my last day on earth is to always include my Brandon in everything we do, at Christmas and always. And though he spends his Christmases with Jesus each year, he will forever be in my heart and my soul and I will continue loving you and telling the world your story, my Angel boy, for mom loves you with every beat of my heart and soul.
Merry Christmas Angel!
Love,
Mom
"He Only Took My Hand"
"Last night while I was trying to sleep,
My son's voice I did hear.
I opened my eyes and looked around
but he did not appear.
He said, "Mom, you've got to listen,
you've got to understand.
God didn't take me from you, Mom,
He only took my hand.
When I called out in pain that night
The instant that I died
He reached down and took my hand
And pulled me to His side.
He pulled me up and saved me
From the misery and the pain
My body was hurt so bad inside
I could never be the same.
My search is really over now
I've found happiness within,
And all the answers to my empty dreams
and all that might have been.
I love you so and miss you so
And I'll always be nearby
My body's gone forever
But my spirit will never die
And so, you must go on now, Mom,
Live one day at a time
Just understand -
God did not take me from you
He only took my hand."
Author Unknown
September 22, 2007
THANK YOU ALL FOR
ALL YOUR LOVE AND
SUPPORT.
WE DID IT!!!
INAUGURAL
BRANDON "BK" 5K
KILLINGSWORTH
MEMORIAL
SCHOLARSHIP
RUN/WALK
SEPTEMBER 22, 2007
WINDOVER FARMS
MELBOURNE, FL
PROCEEDS GO TO THE BRANDON KILLINGSWORTH MEMORIAL ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP
EAU GALLIE HIGH SCHOOL
MELBOURNE, FL
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Melissa Killingsworth through this site
We all joined together, had fun and remembered our Brandon.
Dear Dad
Though we are apart
You will always be a part of my heart
From Heaven above
I watch over you with all my love
So when you get lonely, just take a chance
Turn on the radio and you will hear "The Dance"
And that will be me letting you know
That I will forever love you so.
Happy Father's Day, Dad
Love you always and forever,
Brandon
June 17, 2007
May 18th - your 24th birthday
Oh, how I wish we could celebrate here on Earth
but I must know that you are having the most beautiful birthday you could ever have - up in Heaven.
If I could have one wish come true, it would be to spend one more day with you.
However, my wish did come true that beautiful spring morning, May 18, 1983 for on that day I became your mom and no other wish could ever compare.
Happy Birthday, my sweet and beautiful son. I will light your candle on this day and thank God for allowing me to be your Mom.
I will love you forever!
Love, Mom
Easter brings so many memories to mind but especially when my children were little. Easter egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, sunrise church services at the beach...these were all a part of it but mostly, it was being with our family. Living in Florida, we always had such beautiful weather at Easter time so we usually had family visit us. Now my family is grown and some have passed on, but I will always have my Angel Brandon, watching over us and smiling, always smiling.
Happy Easter Brandon
Love, Mom
SOUTHPAW
#4
March 3, 2008
Brandon - Southpaw will be celebrating his 3rd birthday this year with you, his Angel Daddy always watching over him. He is the most beautiful, kind, soulful dog we have ever known. When we ask him where the Angels are, he always looks up to the same place. Are you there, Angel? Are you watching over us? We know you are. Thank you for giving us this beautiful creature to love and care for. We know how much you love him and how much he loves you and we love him with all our heart and that is what love is all about.
Somthing I have wanted to do for quite some time and again, I do this is honor and memory of you and that is to train Southpaw to become a therapy dog. Well, February 17, 2008 he passed his first of 4 tests and is on his way to become the therapy dog he is meant to be. Once he gets certified and we are out and about, I will tell everyone about you and how you chose this beautiful, sweet dog to become a member of our family.
Love, Mom
This Irish shamrock is for you, Brandon in honor of the Irish we have in our family - thanks to your Papaw Morrison.
May you always keep the Luck of the Irish in your Heart!!!
2007
Brandon
We are sending our Valentine Hearts up to Heaven to you, Angel.
Catch them and never let go!
BELIEVE
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that counts. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
GATORS
2006
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS
Brandon LOVED the Gators always...in fact,his Uncle Mike used to call him Gator when he was just a little boy. Well, the Gators play for the National Championship on January 8, 2007 and if Brandon has anything to do with it, the Gators will win. And if not, well, one of their biggest fans will be cheering them on anyway. So we will be cheering on the Gators with you, Brandon, wishing you were here with us and knowing that you always are.
Thank you for visiting our son's site. Please light a candle or tribute as you leave. They mean the world to us, knowing that Brandon will forever be remembered.
Just looking to the sky, knowing that our beautiful Brandon is looking down on us with that big, beautiful smile and it makes us smile through our tears. We also look for your star, Brandon - the one Shannon had named for you. Is it that one?
Love, Mom & Dad
This candle burns
eternally for the life of
our son, Brandon.
RIP Angel.
A DAD'S GRIEF
It must be very difficult
to be a man in grief
since men don't cry and men are strong
no tears can bring relief.
It must be very difficult
to stand up to the test
and take the calls and visitors
so she can get some rest
They always ask if she's all right
and what she's going through
but seldom take his hand and ask
"My friend, but how are you?"
He hears her crying in the night
and thinks his heart will break
he dries her tears and comforts her
but stays strong for her sake
It must be very difficult to start each day anew
and try to be so very brave
He lost his baby too.
-Anonymous-
Love, Brandon
FOR YOU MOM
My Mom is a survivor
or so I've heard it said,
But I can hear her crying at night
when all others are in bed.
I watch her lay awake at night
and go to hold her hand,
She doesn't know I'm with her
to help her understand.
But like the sand on the beach
that never wash away...
I watch over my surviving Mom,
who thinks of me each day.
She wears a smile for others...
a smile of disquise!
But through Heaven's door I see
tears flowing from her eyes.
My Mom tries to cope with death
to keep my memory alive,
But anyone who knows her knows
it is her way to survive.
As I watch over my surviving Mom
through Heaven's open door...
I try to tell her that angels
protect me forevermore.
I know that doesn't help her...
no matter what she feels,
my surviving Mom has a broken heart
that time won't ever heal.
I love you Mom
Love
Brandon
Katie Brandon Emily
SISTERS
My little sisters, Katie Lynne and Emily Anne, were my biggest supporters (next to my parents), my biggest cheerleaders and my biggest pains but I loved them with all my heart. We were best friends from the time Mom and Dad brought them home in a laundry basket. We had our differences and we had our fights but in the end we were always best friends. We did everything together when we were little and as we grew they seemed to want to copy everything I did and though I sometimes complained about it, it was the biggest compliment I could ever have. They followed me through school from kindergarten to our senior year in high school and we sometimes had the same teachers and though they had to live up to my example at times, they did so with grace and accomplishment. When we were planning our college careers, I insisted that we go our separate ways and though I know it was hard on them and Mom and Dad as well, I knew they needed to do this so they could create their own legacy and not follow in "Big Brother's" shoes and again they did so with grace and humility. I was so proud of them and I will continue to be proud of them. I am now your Guardian Angel and I will watch over you forever until we are once again reunited in Heaven. You are the best Katie and Emily. You make me so proud, you make Mom and Dad so proud and your accomplishments will be tremendous.
I will love you always.
Love,
Brandon
UPDATE ON TRIP TO HICKORY, NC AND LENOIR-RHYNE COLLEGE
MAY 13, 2006
Our trip to LRC was not only heartwrenching but it was also the beginning of closure. I know that I will finally have closure on that day I enter Heaven's gate and am reunited with my son but I also know that what we went through at Lenoir Rhyne College was the beginning of our healing. Brandon loved LRC so much and from what we could see, everyone who had the honor of knowing our son loved him as well. We were honored to meet personally with the President of Lenoir Rhyne College, we met with Dean Anita Johnson Gwin several times, we met with the Reverend Weisner and the Bishop and of course, we met with all of Brandon's friends and brothers. JD, you were absolutely awe-inspiring in your statement to the student body as their student body president. What an amazing young man you are. I am so honored to have met with you. I know that Brandon was smiling down on us that day. You were and continue to be such a good friend to Brandon. Thank you for all that you did for the plaza in Brandon's memory. Brian, I am so proud of you and all that you have done for the fraternity. Brandon had a vision to make Pi Kappa Phi the best fraternity at LRC and you, along with your brothers, accomplished that. I know that Brandon is so very proud of you. Tyler - where do I begin with you. You were and continue to be one of Brandon's best, best friend and I will hold you in my heart forever. Thank you for being Brandon's friend. For everyone else who was there for us and for Brandon, thank you from the bottom of my heart. All the heartfelt words, hugs and compassion we were given will never be forgotten. Everyone of you will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Brandi, Ryan, Roemer, Jason & Jen - you traveled all the way from Florida to be there for us and to be there for Brandon. What amazing young adults you all are. You were always there for Brandon and continue to be there for us in Brandon's memory. For that, I love you all dearly and you also hold a very, very special place in my heart.
As for my family, where would I be without you these past 18 months. You have continued to give me strength and love and shoulders to lean on and cry on and along with Brandon's legacy, the will to go on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Brandon was honored at graduation with a Resolution from Lenoir Rhyne College which I will be posting on his website in the near future along with some newspaper clippings. I hope that you will read it for it shows beyond the words of a grief-stricken, loving mom the kind of person my son was and continues to be. I was always so very proud of Brandon and I will continue to be so very proud of him until that very special day comes when I am reunited in my son's big bear arms.
Thank you all from the very bottom of my heart. I love you all.
In Brandon's memory always - Brandon's Mom
Brandon's Brothers
PI KAPPA PHI
forever
LENOIR RHYNE COLLEGE
HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA
You will forever be a part of our lives as you were a part of Brandon's. Thank you for all that you have done and all that you have said in memory and honor of "our" Brandon.
Mr. & Mrs. "K"
A MAN REMEMBERED NEVER DIES
Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a neglilble accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief monent and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!!!
Canon Henry-Scott
1847-1918
Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral
We will remember you and
love you for all time.
Love, kisses & hugs
Mom, Dad, Katie & Emily
BELIEVE
I CAN DO ALL
THINGS
THROUGH CHRIST WHO
STRENGTHENS ME!
PHILIPPIANS 4:13
THE RIGHTEOUS PERISH, AND NO ONE PONDERS IT IN HIS HEART, DEVOUT MEN ARE TAKEN AWAY, AND NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE TAKEN AWAY TO BE SPARED FROM EVIL.
ISAIAH 57:1
Brandon, our
Angel, you
continue
to amaze us.
 
******************************************
We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new,
We thought about you yesterday and the days before that too.
We think of you in silence, we often speak your name,
All we have are our memories and pictures in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake, with which we will never part,
God has you in His keeping, we have you in our heart.
*********************************************
BRANDON, YOUR LIFE WILL BE
CELEBRATED
FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE...
THIS IS MY PROMISE TO YOU, MY
PRECIOUS SON
As I sat here at the computer thinking about what to write about my son, I realized that no words could adequately describe Brandon. What I know about my son are those of a mom's memories and stories and love and yes, they are probably a little biased...in my case, a lot biased...but I loved my son with every beat of my heart and nothing he ever did disappointed me and I just want everyone that knew Brandon, that loved Brandon, that you are such a very important part of my life and as the years go by and we all get older, let us always remember Brandon's kindness, Brandon's dedication, Brandon's friendship, Brandon's smile, and Brandon's love and let us always keep in touch...for that is what Brandon, BK, or Bran would want. Keep smiling, Angel Boy.
Brandon loved his family and Shannon and Southpaw and he loved God most of all but he also loved school, he loved sports (all of them - not particularly women's sports but he tolerated them because of his sisters...lol), he loved country music...George Strait, Buddy Jewel and a slew of others, he loved to eat and his grandmothers loved cooking for him, he loved to argue and even if it didn't make sense he would continue arguing his point...you could never get mad at him because he would laugh and joke and say some of the dumbest things but he always continued to argue his point...even to the point of stupidity. He would drive his Aunt Mary Ann crazy with his arguing and he knew it and laughed at it and continued doing it. He loved to laugh (I miss his laugh) and he loved to go out with his friends but he also loved just staying at home with his family and his friends and he loved to watch TV, especially sports and Chris Berman and the Cincinnati Reds and the Miami Dolphins. Brandon was just an all-around good guy and one we will miss here on earth but heaven...you sure got a good one up there. So as you look over Brandon's website, listen to the music, look at the pictures, light a candle or write a tribute and just remember.
The mention of my son's name may bring tears to
my eyes, but it never fails to bring music to my
ears. If you are really my friend, let me hear the
beautiful music of his name. It soothes my
broken heart and sings to my soul.
FOR MY SON
Something will remind me
I never know just when
It might be something someone says
And it all comes back again
The times we spent together
The happiness, the fun
Once again I feel the pain
Of life without my son.
It's said that time's a healer
I'm not sure that this is true
There's not a day goes by my son
That I don't cry for you.
-Anonymous-
I will continue adding more to this website as I find myself able to so keep checking back and lighting candles and writing tributes.
They are so beautiful and we love them.
May 18, 1983
  
Brandon...I am taking care of your puppy, Southpaw. He has your kindness, your appetite, your hair and your soul and I thank you for letting me take care of him and for loving me as he does. Sometimes when I look at him and he is looking back at me, it seems as if you are there and for this I am so grateful. He is a gentle bear - just like you. He is the most precious and kind dog - he is yours and I love him dearly.
Southpaw
For all the Angel Families but especially for all the Angel Moms, I have gained strength through the pain and tears and the special bond we share. So I want to thank each and everyone of you from the bottom of my heart and I pray that you will find comfort and peace through the memories and love of our Angels. God bless you!
"If God brings me to it, He will bring me through it"
If there was ever anybody to deserve a ticket to the other side - it was you !
submitted by your baby sister, Emily
HONORING YOUR LIFE ON YOUR 25TH BIRTHDAY
OUR SON, OUR ANGEL, OUR HERO
LOVE
MOM, DAD, KATIE AND EMILY
MAY 18, 2008
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