Brandi Charmaine Calandra Merday, 28, of Offerman, slipped away Monday, May 7, 2018, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

She was born December 16, 1989, in Tacoma, WA. She was the eldest child of Roderick Merday Sr. and Rosemary Hardy Merday. She was bound for big city dreams even as a child. At the tender age of six years old, her family moved back to Blackshear.

She received the Lord in her life at an early age and was a dedicated member of both St. James A.M. E. Church in Blackshear and attended Evergreen Church in Bristol.

She attended Pierce County School System until the eighth grade before transferring to Ware County School System where she was a graduate of the class of 2008. She was a very proud and active member of the Pierce and Ware County cheerleading squads.  While at Ware County High School, she was a member of the Competition Cheerleading team, the Ware County Marching Band Flag Corps, Honor Society, Drama Team, FBLA and Sounds of Harmony.

Her interest was in the fashion and entertainment industry. She was also an entrepreneur by opening her own online business “Be Exotic Hair Extensions”. She was employed with T-Rock Wireless.

She loved and lived life to the fullest and always wore a smile that would brighten everyone’s day that she came in contact with daily.

She loved her family and friends unconditionally and always enjoyed gatherings of all sorts.

She was preceded in death by her maternal great-grandparents, Lenora Hardy, Prince Graham, and Rosa Graham and grandfather, Sgt. Major Cleo Hardy. She was also preceded by her paternal grandmother, Laura B Merday and her paternal grandfather, Lester Ricks.

She leaves to cherish her love, smile, and uniqueness with her son, Ahmad Merday; daughter, Zoe Merday. her parents, Roderick (Angel) Merday Sr., Blackshear and Rosemary Merday (William Fullwood), Waycross; two brothers, Roderick Merday Jr. (Skylar Graham), Jacksonville, FL and Jordan Merday, Waycross;  grandmothers, Mary Louise Hardy, Offerman and Gwen (Bill) Burwell, Dublin; uncles, John (Nita) Hardy, Colorado Springs, CO; Bobby Hardy, Offerman;  two nephews, Ashton Merday and Tristan Merday, both of Jacksonville, FL; a special cousin, Brittany Hardy,  along with other cousins John Hardy Jr., and Troy (Maria) Watson, all of Colorado Springs: Asheka Hardy, FL and Bobby Hardy Jr., Patterson, Constance (Joe) Drew, Statesboro and Zena James, Waycross; a special friend, Matt Washington, Patterson and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family is receiving friends at the home of her mother, Rosemary Merday, 1922 Elaine Avenue, Waycross. Friends and family are also being received at the home of her grandmother, Mary Louise Hardy, where Brandi lived at 3038 Armor Road, Patterson.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 18, at the funeral home, 505 Ware St., Blackshear.

A celebration of life will be held at noon Saturday, May 19, from the Offerman Baptist Church, 7225 U.S, Hwy 84, Offerman where the Rev. James Lightsey is the pastor. Words of comfort will be delivered by Bishop Albert Bussey, pastor of Victory Temple Bible Believers Fellowship, Waycross.

Interment will follow in Union Chapel Church Cemetery in Mershon.

She will lie in state at the church from 11 a.m. until the hour of service.

The cortege will assemble at 3038 Armor Rd., at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, May 19.

Final and most sacred arrangements are entrusted to the professional care of Rainge Memorial Chapel, Inc.