Jabari Lee Roper

Age 30, of Indianapolis, Indiana, formerly of Lansing, passed away Thursday, November 10, 2011. Jabari was born on August 8, 1981. He was a 2000 graduate of Everett High School and a state of Indiana employee.

He leaves to cherish his memory and celebrate his life: his loving and devoted wife of 7 years, Katrina; his parents, George Thornton and Sabrina Roper Thornton; brother, JaQuan Roper of Tampa, FL; grandfather, Gary Lee (Charlotte) Roper; aunt, Stacy Roper Jackson; and father and mother-in-law, Christopher and Theodora May. Jabari was preceded in death by his beloved grandmother, Janice French Roper.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 18, 2011 at Reachout Christian Center Church, 5628 Wise Rd., Lansing. The family will receive friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel on Thursday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. The casket will be open on Thursday at the funeral home and closed at the church on Friday. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

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28 Messages to “Jabari Lee Roper

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Lakinda Word
November 15, 2011 at 3:58 pm

Jabari was a dear friend and will truly be missed. Praying for the family strength

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Lorraine Aide
November 15, 2011 at 4:00 pm

My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
I worked with Jabari, I am pleased that I had the pleasure to know him. What a gentle soul with a smiling face and always a kind word.

Regards,

Lorraine Aide

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Lisa Buchanan
November 15, 2011 at 4:00 pm

To a man who showed me that a smile and a kind heart still is possible in this world and brings so much joy to others. Jabari, you touched my heart and always made me smile as well, you are a wonderful friend. I remember training you and the laughs we had, and I remember our conversations about Notre Dame and your favorite gold and blue team, I will miss you so much. I look at this point in my life as you are my new guardian angel and when I am sad I will remember the good laughs and times we had. Katrina, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

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Carla S. Hatton
November 15, 2011 at 4:01 pm

My thoughts and prayers are with Jabari’s wife, Katrina, his family and friends. Jabari was a pleasure to know and to work with. He was a special friend, who always had a smile on his face, & he never complained. He will be missed.

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Karen Clapp
November 15, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Jabari,
I thank you for the time (that all of us here at the state) got to know you.
There isn’t anyone here that isn’t going to miss you.
You always had a smile on your face, even when it was hard to smile, you smiled.
I know this is short, but Jabari, You are missed……….

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Bernadette Hurley
November 15, 2011 at 4:07 pm

If We Could Bring You Back Again

If we could bring you back again,
For one more hour or day,
We’d express all our unspoken love;
We’d have countless things to say.

If we could bring you back again,
We’d say we treasured you,
And that your presence in our lives
Meant more than we ever knew.

If we could bring you back again,
To tell you what we should,
You’d know how much we miss you now,
And if we could, we would.

Peom by Joanna Fuchs

God bless the Family of Jabari

Humbly submitted by Co-worker/Team lead Of IDWD Call center

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LaMetra
November 15, 2011 at 4:08 pm

Hi Family
In the name of the Holy Father, I submit my condolences and pray that God who regins over everything may continue to give you all strength in this time of need.
Peace and Blessing

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Kim Edomwonyi
November 15, 2011 at 4:27 pm

Dear Lord, I cannot see Jabari

But this I know, although the road ascends

And passes from my sight,

That there will be no night;

That You will take him gently by the hand

And lead him on

Along the road of life that never ends,

And he will find it is not death but dawn.

I do not doubt that You are there as here,

And you will hold him dear.

Our life did not begin with birth,

It is not of the earth;

And this that we call death, it is no more

Than the opening and closing of a door

And in Your house how many rooms must be

Beyond this one where we rest momentarily.

Dear Lord, I thank You for the faith that frees,

The love that knows it cannot lose its own;

The love that, looking through the shadows, sees

That You and Jabari and I are ever one!

— James Dillet Freeman

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Sol Jordan
November 15, 2011 at 4:40 pm

You came to work with a smile no matter what every single day, a great person you were. Thank you.
A great person we have lost and today we know you are in a better place with GOD
and we know you are smiling down and watching upon us.
it’s not goodbye, because we will see each other one day on the other side.

Katrina, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family,
May the lord give you the strength to get you through this difficult time.

You are truly missed Jabari. In our heart you will live forever.

May God Bless you all!

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Jose Figueroa/Co-Worker Team Lead DWD
November 15, 2011 at 4:47 pm

Jabari,
We spoke quite alot about how the Lord has a plan for us and I know that He is with you at this time. Even though I knew you for a short period of time I will sorely miss you.
My condolences to the family and I’m praying that he gives you the strength to keep you strong during this difficult time.
God Bless All of You!
Jose Figueroa

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Karen Ray aka Glitter
November 15, 2011 at 8:27 pm

I really have no words to express how much I’m going to miss that smiling face. I once read that Death leaves a heartache that only God can comfort and heal and Love leaves a memory that no one can steal. The memories are great and many my friend. I take comfort in knowing that you are dancing with the Angels and walking on streets of gold and that someday we will meet again on that great Homecoming Day. To Katrina and all of Jabari’s family and friends I pray for a comfort and peace from God that surpasses all understanding.

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Donata Brown-Tisdel
November 16, 2011 at 8:39 am

The Call Centers thoughts and prayers will forever be with you, Katrina and the Roper family. We will desperately miss Jabari…
Donata Brown-Tisdel/Call Center Team Lead

Author Unknown

The day God called you home
God looked around his garden
And He found an empty place.
He then looked down upon this earth,
And saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering
He knew you were in pain
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.

He saw that the road was getting rough.
And the hills are hard to climb,
So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered “Peace be thine”.

It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone
For part of us went with you
That day that God called you home

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Monica Partlow
November 16, 2011 at 8:57 am

For your loved ones I will continue to pray. Jabari you will so be missed. You never walked through you always passed by but it was always with a smile and a hello even for stangers. Yes you will be missed but we are all blessed to have the chance to know you.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of Jabari’s love ones.

May God Bless you and keep you in comfort.

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Shirley Parker
November 16, 2011 at 12:05 pm

I didn’t know you but you appeared to be a quiet spoken person, but like I say I didn’t know you. I passed by you a few time in the hallways or outside near Senate Ave. But does it matter if we knew each other? No! The Lord knew you and he wanted you to be near him.
In Ecclesiastes 3:11 he says ” He hath made every thing beauitful in his time” Your face was warm and friendly and I wish I could have know you too.
May God bless your family and one day they will come to know that the lord wanted you more.

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Diane L. Moss
November 16, 2011 at 12:36 pm

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. The Lord never makes and mistake when he brings a loved one home. Jabari The Lord needed another angel to sing in his beautiful choir. You will be sadly missed by all who loved you.

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Ty Hayes aka Mr. Scarlet and Gray
November 16, 2011 at 1:04 pm

The Maze and Blue has the fan of all fans representing them from heavens door. Go BLUE.
My prayers are with you Katrina and the family.

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Cherry Harvey and Family
November 16, 2011 at 1:21 pm

Our prayers are with the family and friends!! Jabari always with a smile on his face!!! That Smile that could never be replaced! I can only imagine his Smile now being with our Heavenly Father!!! God Bless!!! Until we met again my friend!!!

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’ sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

23rd Psalm

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Danielle
November 16, 2011 at 2:00 pm

Jabari always had a smile on his face. And I know he’s smiling now. My thoughts and prayers go out to Katrina and the family. We definitely will miss Jabari.

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Mycheale
November 16, 2011 at 3:29 pm

My prayers are with your Family at this very trying time, please allow your FAITH to sustain you at this time. May GOD continue to bless you and your family!

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Jacqueline Cooper
November 16, 2011 at 3:29 pm

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be not more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former thing are passed away.

May God hold you in His arms during your time of sadness.

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Kiwanis Bishop aka "Boss"
November 16, 2011 at 6:33 pm

I was Jabari’s supervisor while he was at the state. We became friends very fast, because I used to tease him on how quiet he was. He was a very soft spoken and polite individual. We spoke a great deal about family, school, sports, religion..the whole nine. He was very easy to talk to. He always had kind words to those he crossed paths with, but he could cut up when the opportunity presented itself. He was always the one in our team meetings who had a funny story to share. So when you hear things like “stuff-n-do” and “Sacurity Question” know that it’s story that Jabari told us about a call he had.

Jabari also loved our monthly pitch-ins. Just before he left us, (due to transferring to another agency) we had made plans for him to down for the Thanksgiving pitch-in. We all planned to see him this Friday, but we know that it will never be.

Jabari will be sorely missed by everyone, especially me. I have tears in my eyes as I write this because we had just celebrated him getting a new job and doing something that he would really enjoy. We had so much fun the last week he was with us. As the day closed on his last day with the call center, he told me, “I’m not going to leave without giving my favorite boss a hug”. See, Jabari never really called me by name, he always referred to me as “Boss” I didn’t mind it though coming from him. We all had nicknames for each other. I told him, “Okay, but don’t forget”. I’m glad he didn’t. We hugged each other and told one another good luck. I told him to make sure he came down Friday and he chuckled and said, “Alright I will”. Out the door he went.

When I received news about his passing, my heart just sank along with everyone else’s. I just couldn’t come to grips that my friend, my co-worker, my teammate was gone. It’s hard to try to get things together to say good-bye again to someone you thought you would see again. But, I guess this is not good-bye, but see you later, because I know I will see you again.

So, Jabari I will repeat the words to you, as you did to me in the card that you gave me before you left:

Thank You…
And don’t say,
“It was nothing”…
because it meant everything to me”

I thank God that I you came into our lives. I thank God that I got to know you as well as I did. I thank God for you being good teammate and friend. I thank God for the memories we have of you. And I especially thank God that I got to say good-bye to you.

Again though, this is not good-bye, but see you later. I know you’re resting in peace and I’m glad for that. To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. You have your mansion, my friend. I love you and I will miss you always.

To Katrina and the family: My deepest sympathies to each of you. I wish you nothing but comfort in the days ahead. I hope as time goes on, your sorrow gets a little lighter. Jabari was a very good person. He was a friend to 10th degree. Always smiling, always joking. Thank you for letting him be part of our lives.

As I close, I bought a card for the call center to offer some words of comfort as we try to come to grips with Jabari’s loss. I will offer the same words of comfort to you:

God’s gift of time

we all need a time to grieve-
quiet time for reflection
to sift through memories
and come to grips
with what has happened.

we all need a time for tears,
not for the one who is now
at peace in heaven,
but for ourselves as we realize
that things will never be the same.

we all need a time to just “be,”
when we can open ourselves to God
and let the reassurance
of His everlasting love
start to heal our broken hearts.

Praying for you and wishing you peace
-Author Unknown

There is so much more I could say about Jabari, but I will stop here. He will be in our hearts forever. He was too good for this world, and God called him home. We’re all sad and teary-eyed now, but Jabari is kicking up his heels happy to be at home with the FATHER. That, we take comfort in knowing. Rest in heaven Jabari.

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Dornell and Robert Adams
November 17, 2011 at 11:27 am

My loving son words can’t express how much we are going to miss you. Your dad Robert can feel your spirit and loves you dearly. My daughter Katrina hold on to Gods unchanging hands,it may seem hard right now but God loves us all and he is there for you. To his loving mother hold on to the faith that god has instill in you,take one day at a time and remember you raise a wonderful son. A son that loves the Lord

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Sarah Garton
November 17, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Although I did not have the honor to have known Jabari, my prayers go out to his family and friends. By the comments I have read he was a kind and gentle soul that loved God and all of those with whom he came into contact.

May peace and fond memories help with the pain that you now feel. He is in a better place and knowing this will bring you peace.

Sabrina and George, you have raised a beautiful son and I am so sorry for your loss.

Sarah and Dayton Garton

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Richard Briones
November 17, 2011 at 4:56 pm

I did not know Jabari very long, but he made you feel like you knew him for a long time. Jabari was a compassionate, caring and intelligent young man that was taken from us to soon. I will miss our discussions about sports and govenment and of course that fixed smile on his face. He was a person blessed with a personality that always brightened everyone’s day .
My condolences and deepest sympathy’s to his wife Katrina and family.

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Jermaine
November 17, 2011 at 8:17 pm

Man I’m still in shock and I cannot believe that ur gone.Man me U and AJ was supposed to be friends to the end.I can’t believe god sent U home at such an early age.Man I enjoyed our laughs,our discussions about hip hop and our remincising about our time at SU.Imma miss U man ,U were a truly great freind.

RIP JB Jabari L.Roper

Gone but not forgotten

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D. Jean Kennedy
November 18, 2011 at 12:06 am

To the Family of Jabari I met him about 4 years ago, he was so full of joy, love and happiness. He shared this love with people he met. It is so hard to realize that he is gone. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends. I was honored to have met one of God’s talented angels on this earth. You have to know that he was very much loved by his family and friends by the way he carried himself. There are no words that will help to ease the pain in loosing someone you loved so dear. May you find some comfort in knowing that he is resting with our savior. God gave him to us for a little while now he wanted his son to come home. As the days ahead unfold may the sweet spirit of Jesus rest rule and abide with you and your family until we meet again.

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Chiquela Banks
November 18, 2011 at 10:00 am

You will be greatly missed. I met you at work at DWD in Indiana. You were such a joy to know, although it was only for a brief moment. To the family, may the peace of God which passes all understanding give you comfort and grace to overcome. This is not a tragedy, it is a triumph.

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Kristi "lil thug" Cooper
November 18, 2011 at 12:52 pm

Jabari – Words can not express how much I miss you. I miss seeing you walk in every morning with that wonderful smile. I miss rolling back and forth in our chairs listening to songs, watching youtube vidoes and just laughing and having a great time. No matter how the day was going, you made me, and I know others, laugh. You are truly one of a kind. I am so very grateful to have had this short time with you. After meeting your family and friends in MI, I see where you get it from. you have an awesome family! To Jabari’s family, Katrina – thank you for allowing us to be a part of Jabari’s life. Just know that even though we are all miles away, we miss him and will continue to keep you all in our prayers. There is a poem that I think of Jabari, I have it hung up on my wall at work. It’s The Dash Poem, by Linda Ellis. If you have the time, please read it. He lived his life to the fullest, and that is what we are going to remember. He has made such an impact on so many people, its wonderful to know he is now our angel and will always watch over us. Forever loved and NEVER forgotten! R.I.P. Jabari!!!!!! Kristi – DWD

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