IRVING, Texas — Roslyn Boyd sat in her usual seat near the right aisle on the East side of the sanctuary when she showed up for praise and worship service Sunday morning at West Irving Church of God In Christ.
SLAM DUNK OF A MILESTONE — Braswell High’s Tanayah Moneé Harrell will be achieving arguably her grandest milestone to date when she receives her diploma during Little Elm Texas-based school’s commencement exercises Thursday on the campus of the University of North Texas.
She couldn’t seem to contain herself, couldn’t seem to refrain from sending up a few round of praises even while trying to listen attentively to the weekly church announcements.
“I just thank God,” Roslyn said repeatedly as the announcer shared with the congregation the list of graduates for the Class of 2018.
For the record, Boyd had every reason in the world to be overcome by emotions just moments after finding her way to church.
Arguably the biggest reason is that later this week, she will pay witness to Tanayah Moneé Harrell, her oldest of three children, achieving arguably her grandest milestone to date when she receives her diploma during Little Elm, Texas-based Braswell High School’s commencement exercises Thursday on the campus of the University of North Texas.
For Harrell, that she is about to become the first of her siblings to complete high school undoubtedly is a remarkable feat for the 18-year-old multi-sport athlete whom, to her credit, managed to clear an array of hurdles in recent years, both inside and outside of the classroom.
DESTINY STEPS — For Harrell, that she is about to become the first of her siblings to graduate high school undoubtedly is a remarkable feat for the 18-year-old multi-sport athlete whom, to her credit, managed to clear an array of hurdles inside and outside of the classroom.
“I am very honored that my first child is graduating from high school,” Boyd told Making Headline News during its annual Salute To Graduates Tributes.
Surely, for Boyd and her family, who relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area in July 2005 from New Jersey, the journey for their family’s most celebrated child wasn’t easy in any way, shape, or form, considering she was hit with the brutally challenging tasks of handling and conquering peer pressure, particularly as a student athlete.
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW SHE’S HERE — Surely, for Boyd and her family, which relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area in July 2005 from New Jersey, the journey for their family’s most celebrated child wasn’t easy in any way, shape, or form.
Fortunately for Harrell, though, it was in large part because of the unyielding support of her family that was spearheaded by her praying grandmother, Missionary Aretha Young, who aided Harrell mightily, thus enabled her to become solely committed to church and academics.
In that particularly order.
Come Thursday night, when Harrell joins her fellow graduating seniors for the final time, chances are, she will find herself reflecting upon just why her family’s occasional chastening were absolutely essential for a kid whose best and brightest days are well ahead her.
“I know where she came from and, as a parent, I can truly say I brought her up as the young lady she truly has become,” Boyd, a mother of three, said while assessing her daughter’s progress in recent years.
Once Harrell’s name is finally uttered through the loudspeakers to receive her diploma, the possibility exists that Boyd will respond in a proverbial spirited, tear-jerking fashion.
Just as she did Sunday morning.
“My God…look at what You have done! Thank you Jesus,” said Boyd, when asked what will go through her mind when she hears her daughter’s name called as she walks across the stage to garner her diploma.
FAITH AND FAMILY — Fortunately for Harrell, though, it was in large part because of the unyielding support of her family that was spearheaded by her praying grandmother, Missionary Aretha Young, who aided Harrell mightily, thus enabled her to become solely committed to church and academics.
Having amassed an impressive 2.8 cumulative grade point average while lettering in basketball and track and field, Harrell will enroll this fall at nearby Tyler Junior College, where she plans to major in Biochemistry while boasting lofting aspirations of becoming a pharmacist.
It is unclear whether the former AAU athlete will entertain the possibility of joining Tyler’s basketball program as a walk-on.
“(I tell her) you can reach and obtain anything that you put your mind to do,” Boyd, a DFW-area businesswoman, said. “Through God, all things are possible.”
All of which practically sums up why she couldn’t seem to contain herself Sunday morning, couldn’t seem to refrain from sending up a round of praises even while trying to listen attentively to the weekly church announcements.
EDITOR’S NOTE:Whether your child has already graduated or not, if you would like to pay homage to his/her accomplishments with a unique Salute To Graduates Tribute that will feature a story like the one above with multiple photos, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
ABOUT ANDRE: Andre Johnson is a longtime sports journalist and a 2000 graduate of the University of the Memphis with Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. A native of Memphis, Johnson is a former sport reporter Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper and Memphis Sport Magazine. He worked as full-time staffer for The Commercial Appeal from 2000-2002, in which he was the beat reporter for the Memphis Houn’dawgs of now-defunct American Basketball Assocation and the Memphis Xplorers of the arenafootball2 league. He has interviewed numerous sports personalities, most notably Archie Manning, LeBron James, George “Iceman” Gervin, Issac Bruce, Laila Ali, Vince Carter, Paul Westphal, Phil Jackson, Ken Hamlin, Cortez Kennedy, Michael Oher, Kobe Bryant, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard, James Harden, Patrick Willis, Stanley Morgan, Dirk Nowitzki, Rick Carlisle, Mark Cuban, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, John Force, Lamar Odom, Alexandra Stevenson, Derek Fisher, Penny Hardaway, Phillip Rivers, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh, Tyreke Evans, Kirk Ferentz, and O. J. Mayo, among others. To reach Johnson, send email to: [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
Andre Johnson 
Arguably the biggest reason is that later this week, she will pay witness to Tanayah Moneé Harrell, her oldest of three children, achieving arguably her grandest milestone to date when she receives her diploma during Little Elm, Texas-based Braswell High School’s commencement exercises Thursday on the campus of the University of North Texas.
“I know where she came from and, as a parent, I can truly say I brought her up as the young lady she truly has become,” Boyd, a mother of three, said while assessing her daughter’s progress in recent years.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Whether your child has already graduated or not, if you would like to pay homage to his/her accomplishments with a unique Salute To Graduates Tribute that will feature a story like the one above with multiple photos, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
