Asia Burrel

1971 - 2023

New London - Asia Burrel passed away Feb. 9, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born Aug. 31, 1971, in New London, to Frank Burrel and Vera Boney Burrel. She was a 1989 graduate of New London High School and went on to pursue studies in Communications at Shaw University in North Carolina and Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga.

If you knew Asia, you knew that her sons meant everything to her. As a single mother she did whatever was necessary to make sure that they were always taken care of. Her pride and joy, her cherry on top. They were her #1 and she loved them fiercely. Her legacy lives on within them.

As a friend she was the best kind, one whose loyalty knew no bounds and good energy could change a mood in an instant. She didn't know it but she glowed intensely and could light up any room with her big smile, sense of humor, and unique fashion sense. Asia was warm and sweet but if you crossed the line, you knew it right away because she wasn't afraid to vocalize her feelings. She was a straight-up kind of woman who told the truth whether you wanted to hear it or not and was known for her brutal honesty.

Asia loved to have fun. She loved to listen to music and sing/dance to Mary J. Blige and Adina Howard like nobody was watching. She also had a knack for art and a natural talent for drawing that she used for her kids. This helped her paint murals of their favorite characters on the walls of their bedrooms and draw life-sized cartoon versions of the Tasmanian Devil, Spiderman, Spongebob Squarepants, and saber-toothed tiger. She was a true fashionista dressed from head-to-toe sporting silver jewelry, and wearing her hair in an afro as her signature look. Anything she did, she did it in style.

We celebrate her as she leaves behind her two sons, the lights of her life, Deryn, 26, and Dominick, 19 and her granddaughter, Nalia, 1. Family, friends, and others whose lives were touched by Asia are invited to Calling Hours from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, March 3, at Shiloh Baptist Church and a Service at 11 a.m. The Repast will be at 2 p.m. at the VFW Post 189, 110 Garfield Avenue in New London.