"Dreams" Actress/Singer Valerie Stevenson 1962-2015

[Zoneboy]

http://tinyurl.com/m99hktc

STEVENSON JOSEPH, VALERIE ANNE Born October 19th 1962 in Philadelphia to Millie and William Stevenson. Valerie passed away on January 10th 2015 in the company of the two people she loved most in the world, her husband and daughter, at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Valerie is grateful to Dr. Rolf Barth, and all the doctors, nurses and staff that gave her an extra 11 months, which she greatly appreciated. Valerie was loved by all that came to know her. She truly lit up a room when she entered, mesmerizing everyone. Her angelic voice was known for bringing large crowds of people to silent amazement whenever she would sing. Her style, grace, quick wit and talent made her the belle of any ball. Valerie became an entertainer at the age of 13. At 16 she moved to Nashville where she worked on the Grand Ole Opry and later as a background vocalist for Louise Mandrel!, followed by her own show on the Nashville Network (TNN). A starring role on a new CBS sit-com called "Dreams" with John Stamos and Jami Gertz brought Valerie to Los Angeles in 1982. The TV series led to a CBS recording contract, highlighted by an MTV Video. After her series, Valerie traveled back and forth between LA and NY, making guest appearances on popular shows like "The A-Team", "Our Family Honor", "The Ellen Burstyn Show" and "Guiding Light". It was in New York that she met the love of her life and soul mate, Lance Joseph. After a short long-distance romance, Valerie decided to move to Miami to marry Lance. Valerie loved Miami because it was the perfect place to explore her two passions, animals and plants. Her home and yard was an oasis of tropical plants, trees and orchids. She had several dogs, dozen of cats, chickens, sugar gliders, bearded dragons, rabbits, turtles, and even a kinkajou over the years, but she became an avid bird collector, at one time having over 125 birds. Valerie couldn't turn her back on any lost or hurt animal, and often spent hours finding the owners of lost pets she found. Valerie loved her volunteer work at Fairchild botanical gardens in the orchid department. Valerie would say her biggest accomplishment was having founded the Hot Wheels collector's charity auction in 1992. In the first year it raised just over $5,000, but 6 years later, with Howie Mandel as guest host, the event raised over $100,000. Valerie organized and ran the annual charity event until she was blessed with the birth of her beloved daughter, Samantha Rae. Of all the things in her life, it was her daughter that she most loved and was most proud of. She relished every milestone of Samantha's development. Watching her graduate Ransom Everglades was the one of the last highlights of her too-short life. Her only regret, in addition to never getting a chance to visit her family's homeland in Scotland, was that she would not be around to see what the future holds for Samantha. Valerie chose to face the end of her life with as much class as anyone. When she had fought long enough and had said all there was to say, Valerie's heart simply and peacefully stopped beating. Her heart was large for such a small person, and the strength of her love was felt completely and thoroughly by her friends and family. Her strong and tight hugs showed her fierce love and loyalty, and those hugs will sorely be missed. She will be remembered for her strong love of life, the way her face would light up a room and the way she loved all of God's creatures as equals. She will never be forgotten. In addition to her husband and daughter, Valerie is survived by two sisters, Sharon Stevenson of Hayden Idaho and Virginia (Richard) Staniec of Elmer, N.J., her brother William (Donna) Stevenson of Philadelphia, and sister-in-law, Dorian Joseph of Boca Raton, as well as many nieces, nephews and their children, whose pictures she proudly displayed in her kitchen and showed to everyone she could. She was preceded in death by both parents as well as an older sister, Millie. In lieu of flowers, Valerie requested that donations in her honor be made to the University of Maryland School of Medicine Liver Transplant Research & Education Fund located at 31 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, Md. 21201, www.fundformedicine.org or any no-kill animal shelter of your choice. Valerie also would encourage you to become an organ donor if you're not already one. A celebration of Valerie's life is being planned for March 21st at Valerie's home. For info. contact Lance Joseph at 305-596-6110 or lanceiosephebellsouth.net You can also leave your own tribute on guestbook.

[Zoneboy]

[Marvo301]

Valerie Stevenson

[king of comedy]

Great music. Sad she died so young. R.I.P. Valerie.