Cornelia R

Bogle

Today, I have the honor of highlighting the life of my beautiful niece, Cornelia Ramona Bogle, affectionately called by her close family members Mishka. Born to Errol Bogle & Debbian Stewart on October 24, 1984, in Kingston Jamaica. Her five siblings Tristan, Bradley, Brandon, Jamila, and Trudy later joined her.

She grew up in Jamaica surrounded by her mom, siblings, cousins, aunts, and me; her uncle Kirk. Cornelia entered our lives with a burst of energy, a strong, vibrant, and joyful little girl.

Being the first child to my eldest sister Debbian, she was the first who made me an uncle.  After Cornelia's birth, I was the happiest uncle in town, perhaps, for a bit of selfish reason. See, until her birth, I was the youngest in the family, so I had to take orders from everyone else in the family, and so when she was born I was like, "finally someone I can pass orders to."

But I couldn't have been more wrong in believing she would just let me order her around. She didn't sign up for that and she made sure I earned my uncle's status. Cornelia's dad Errol was a muscle builder; strong and fit in his early days and from a young child growing up, Cornelia swore she had inherited all his strength, and I was just the right playmate she needed to test her strength. She would often walk around the house flexing her muscle and boasting to the family about how she'd beat me up. In her eyes, if she can beat me up, then I can't pass any orders to her.

Even though she would boast of her strength, whenever she was in trouble instead of using her strength, she would use her smarts. We attended Maxfield Park primary school in Jamaica, and while she was in the 1 ^st grade I was in the 5 ^th . Whenever she was getting bullied she didn't hesitate to let her Bullies know that she was going to get her uncle in the 5 ^th grade because she knew I would show up with my whole crew and that would scare them away.

After graduating from primary school she later attended Norman Manley high school, where she stayed for about 2 years until she migrated to the United State at the age of fifteen to live with her dad who is now living in New Jersey . She then attended Eastside High School and graduated with the Class of 2004.

Cornelia had a passion for helping others and that was exemplified throughout her life. She was always compassionate and willing to go the extra mile.  I'll never forget her taking several trips to Miami to assist me when I couldn't help myself. She would then make sure she booked her flight early so she can get back to Jersey on time to help her dad who was ill and her younger siblings who needed her help. So after she graduated from high school and I asked her "what's next?" I wasn't surprised that she wanted to do something in the medical field.

She attended Lincoln Technical Institute and on January 2009 she graduated with a degree in medical assistant. After earning her degree she worked as a per diem at Emerson Health, while holding a full-time position at Allendale Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center.

Over the years, I marveled at her courage and her resolve to overcome challenges that came her way. She was focused on accomplishing her goals. Even as a young girl, I remembered the days she had to hop on her leg while walking miles to primary school because of injuries she had sustained from a stray bullet. She didn't give up; she kept going until she was able to walk normally again.

I have no doubt, that had she been given, just a little bit more time, she was getting ready to flex her muscle to beat the tale off Cancer.

But our God knows the plans that he has for her.

(I Corinthians 15:  53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So to all of us, as we continue on this journey of life, be reminded of the scripture:

(I Corinthians 15:  58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.