Jasma Latisha Merritt

Sylacauga, Alabama -   Jasma Latisha Merritt was born on July 29, 1978, to Bernard Merritt and Zandra Merritt Gilder in Sylacauga, AL. She accepted Christ at a young age and loved the Lord, making Saint Thomas United Methodist Church in Sylacauga, AL her church home.

She was a loving mother, daughter, sister, niece, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend. She doted on her beloved son, Jaelon Garrett, and her grandbabies were the apples of her eye. She graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1996 and continued her education at Virginia College, studying to become a Surgical Technician. She would spend several years being a travel Home Health Agent throughout Shelby County but would exchange the road for a more settled position at Walmart to carry out her pregnancy of her favorite son, Jaelon.

Jasma, affectionately called Jazz by many, was our neighborhood Chatty Cathy!!! She could talk and loved to talk. Some of her favorite past times included all things food and TV programs. She was going to forward you recipes and continually ask if you’ve tried them. She’d also call and let you know that your (really her) favorite program was about to air, but then tell you that she needed to go get herself situated to watch. If you didn’t know her, you’d never know when her circumstances weren’t favorable because she never complained, and she was the one that always checked on everyone else. She was full of life, and she left enough behind for us all, to keep her light shining.

She was called home to be with the Lord on November 8, 2024, at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her grandmothers Cumia (Thomas) Marbury and Lille Mae Merritt, grandfathers Elisha (Jo Etta) Thomas and Willie Lee Merritt, aunts Jacqueline Thomas, Gladys (James) Cook and Marsha Foster.

She leaves to cherish her memories her beloved son Jaelon Garrett, father, Bernard (Rena) Merritt, mother, Zandra Merritt Gilder, brothers, Zachery Terrell (Kelissa) Merritt and Dexter Dabbs; sisters, Tiki (Ricky) Curry and Gerri Merritt. Grandkids, Ashton and Ariyaah Garrett (Ariale Looney); aunts, Geraldine Thomas and Janet (Rudy) Merritt Reynolds; uncles, Hal (Olivia) Merritt, Jeff Merritt and Derryck Foster; nieces, Sherrell Wilson, Rhian and Ryleigh Tate; nephews, Reese Tate, Zachery, Chris, Terell and Eli Merritt, and a host of great aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends.

Celebration of life for Jasma Latisha Merritt, age 46, will be held on Monday, November 18, 2024 at 1:00PM at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church, Sylacauga, Alabama.  Evangelist Monica Mann, Eulogist.  Interment will commence in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Sylacauga, Alabama.  Public Viewing will be held on Sunday, November 17, 2024 1:00PM to 7:00PM at Community Funeral Home. 

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