Crystal Nola Briggs-Smith's Obituary
Our beloved Crystal Nola (Briggs) Smith unexpectedly passed away early morning on September 30th, 2021 at Emory Hillandale Hospital in Lithonia, GA. Crystal was born July 12, 1975 in Decatur Illinois, to Solomon Briggs, owner of Briggs Heating & Air Conditioning and Nola Jean (Nixon) Briggs, LPN. Crystal, the youngest of her siblings, grew up in a loving family where both parents stressed the importance of family, education, strong work ethics, and a belief in God.
Crystal graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School, class of 1993. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Community Health Administration from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in 1998, her Master’s in Business Administration from Kaplan University in 2016 and obtained several Master Level Certifications in Nutrition and Personal training through ISSA. It was out of her love and concern for her parents that led Crystal to develop an early awareness of the importance of health and nutrition. Her passion for health and fitness, along with the family values instilled in her, led her to create and establish herself as a businesswoman and became the owner of Crystal’s Fitness, LLC in 2019.
When Crystal set her mind on something it became an accomplishment.
Her deep-rooted sense of family, the loss of her parents, and being a survivor of 9/11, she became more determined to connect with her family. She began researching Ancestry and Census Records, reaching out and connecting many members of her family. This led her to create the “Briggs Family Tree”, the “Briggs Family Group”, and “Cliff Family Group” on Facebook.
Crystal was a beautiful and adventurous soul; vibrant and full of life. Her smile was contagious, her laugh distinct, her love deep, and her presence would lift spirits with her positive energy, an energy that seemed endless. Her name Crystal was truly representative of who she was.
Crystal and her former husband, Jamal R Smith, were married on August 25, 2001 and from this union came the love of her life and her greatest gift, a daughter Zia.
Crystal leaves behind her beautiful daughter, Zia Smith, her sister Candi Briggs Ntsimi, brothers Brian (Neola) Briggs, Bruce Briggs, nieces Érica Ntsimi, Nina Ntsimi, Gabrielle Ntsimi, Zakari Briggs, nephew, Zachary Briggs, many beloved cousins and other family members, and a multitude of loved ones and very close friends, many who became family to her. She loved each and every one of us and will truly be missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Graceland Fairlawn Funeral home on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 2:00p.m. at the Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home.
Arrangements by Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home 2091 Oakland Ave., Decatur, IL 62526. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.gracelandfairlawn.com
Services will be streamed at www.funeralvue.com/login/event#63498.
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