Brytnae Jalise Berry

Ms. Brytnae Jalise Berry, beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend, passed away on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at the age of nineteen years. Brytnae was born in Bay City, Michigan to Matisa Ellison and Samuel Gee on June 23, 1999.

She was a member of Spiritual Israel Church and Its Army, where she served as a member of the youth choir and Daughters of Zion board for many years. She graduated high school from Bay City Central in 2017, where she played basketball, volleyball, and threw the shot-put for the track & field team. Brytnae was accepted to Grand Valley State University where she received an athletic scholarship for shot-put.

Brytnae was full of life and loved entertaining her family and friends. She had a passion for basketball and loved playing at her church during the summer program as well playing for school. She played many years and was most proud for making the varsity team for three years. Brytnae received an honorable mention in the Saginaw Valley League for basketball.

Even though basketball was her first love, she also excelled in Track & Field where she threw shot-put. As a junior, she earned All-State honors with her throw of 41 feet, 4.5 inches, her personal best. Brytnae was the Saginaw Valley Champ for two consecutive years and also, she ranked #4 in the state her junior year.

Brytnae also found enjoyment in sewing in which she taught herself. She made skirts, makeup bags, key chains and lanyards. She had a sewing room out of this world. Brytnae had a smile that could brighten any room, but one thing that really made her smile was spending time with her godbrother, Quintyn, and cousin Kingston. She was truly a beautiful soul.

She will forever be loved and remembered by her mother Matisa Ellison; father Samuel Gee; grandparents, David and Mary Berry; her two brothers, Dalvin Ellison, Samuel McCoy; six sisters, Kaylin, Whitney, Samia, Tamia, Jadelyn, La’Kerryah Gee; aunt, Kaylaya Berry; uncles, Shahada (Sharecca) Hardwick, Kenard O’Neal, Tarkeus Gee, Desmond Matthews; four nieces; two nephews; godbrothers, Troy Williams Jr., Karim McCune II, Quintyn Page; a very special cousin, Kingston; and a host of cousins, other relatives, and friends

Brytnae was preceded in death by her great-grandmother, Ora Wilkins; grandmother, Bettie Gee-Brown; and aunt, Sherita Dosal.

A special thanks to Bay-Arenac Behavioral Health, Birdie Brown, and Barb Goss of Saginaw Psychological.