Jeremia Leon Yates

Many years later, still thinking of you my dude. I was in our house when Myron woke me up at 2-3 am breaking the bad news. I couldn't believe it. You were my roommate, one of my best friends. If you're reading this, you'll be glad to know that myself, myron, and rich have kept in touch over the years and have talked about you from time to time and all the amazing memories at good old 1203 new land dr. We were all in our 20's, still figuring out our lives. I look at us all now and I...

It has been a year. And its a little easier. Boy, me,Tesa, and Jonathan were talk and laughing at you the other day. Boy you were funny. I hate the fact that you aren't here to make us laugh even some. I miss you and everything about you. I just wish that it wasn't so hard. But alls I know is that I'll see you when I get there. And keep my seat warm cuz it may be a while. But I hope its not to soon. And Nyjah is looking more and more like you everyday. Thats crazy how much he looks like you....

Happy 26th Birthday!! So much has changed since you have been gone, good and bad, but mostly good. The one thing that I know would have surprised you the most is when I would have told you that I am going to be a mother next year, not to one but to two beautiful baby girls (I know that you are laughing right now like not April) yeah who would have thought. Even though you are not here in the physical I know that you are here in spirit and wishing me all the best. I will forever cherish you...

Happy 26th Birthday! I love you and miss you very much.

Boy, it has been almost a year and it still feels funny that you are not here. This is your first Birthday and first Christmas that we have to man and woman up to celebrate without you. Believe me, its not a day that goes by that we don't think and/or talk about you. Today you would be 26 years old. Boy you were getting old while I'll was getting younger and more beautiful. LOL. But its a gradual process that is very slow. And some days I feel as if I'm going backward rather than forward. But...

Dear Dearest Friend,

I just want to say hello and I miss you. I was thinking about you and I just want to say "THANK YOU" for everything. I really wish you were here with us. It's not every day you can find someone as genuine as you are. But I do want to thank God for the years he has blesed us with your presence. I know with time I will heal and all of this will be pleasing to my heart. I just hope I see you again and that everything will be the way it suppose to be.
...

Dear Jeremia,

I am slowly healing and coping with your homegoing. Sometimes I would sit back and think about all the fun we all had together. Although times we may be mad at one another we would always make up. Sometimes when I see certain things it immediately bring me to your attention like basketball(76ers), football(Redskins) and can't forget the #1 thing, NAS. I remember we would watch Rap City and NAS's song would come on and I would tell you that I didnt like it. You...

Knowing Jay was a priviledge and an Honor. He was a very genuine and degnified individual. I have been in DENIAL since his passing away. It is a loss on earth but a gain in heaven and hopefully somedy i will come to understand the things i cannot change. I beleive he is living in all of us. My sympathy goes out to his family and everyone who came to know JAY. God BLESS.

What a loss not only to the Navy, but to the world. My deepest prayers are with the family.