Denise Michelle Pearson

Denise (Nesey) Michelle Pearson departed this life on April 8, 2018 at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. Nesey was born to the late Arletha and Wilbur T. Pearson on October 30, 1958. She liked to remind people that being a “58 baby,” was special because so many incredible people were also born that year. And she was right. She was the youngest of four siblings, Michael Pearson Sr., Kathryn Pearson-West and the late Wilbur Pearson Jr.

Nesey, a native Washingtonian, was proud of her education at Theodore (RoRo) Roosevelt High School. After graduating she continued her education at Drexel University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing in 1981. Although she wasn’t fond of school, she created lasting memories and friendships that she maintained throughout her life. Many of her friends could boast having 20, 30 and 50-year friendships with her.

In 1997 she met and subsequently married Cheryl Fields, known as Amari. In Amari, she found her “person” and they were always together. They traveled the world including Italy, Spain, Croatia, Hong Kong, Beijing, Mexico, the Caribbean, Aruba, and Jamaica. Denise also enjoyed a number of hobbies including reading, often sharing books with her sister Kathryn and her co-workers. She also loved skeet shooting and target practice and recently joining the DMV Shooters club. Denise also loved classic R&B and watching movies, especially musicals. Her favorites were the Wizard of Oz, the Sound of Music and Cooley High. Before she became ill, she also enjoyed bowling, lifting weights (she could bench 120 pounds), archery, horseback riding, golf and coaching her softball team to a league championship. Perhaps because everyone said her life would be short, she lived it to the fullest.

One of the things Nesey loved most was her family. There was no one that she loved more than her beloved son Justin Donte Rodriquez. Although she was proud of his accomplishments, she was even prouder of the thoughtful, compassionate and kind man he became. She marveled at how quickly the time passed between the days when she held him in her arms and being able to see him discover and pursue his passion for acting. Nesey also loved her array of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Like her mother before her, her house became the location for Christmas dinners, summer cookouts and birthday parties for family and friends. She loved dressing up for Halloween and themed birthday parties and hosting Easter diners where she would hide Easter eggs filled with candy and cash. Nesey would do anything for her family. She even taught herself core math so that she could “tutor” her niece.

Denise leaves to cherish her memory her sister in-law Jewel Pearson, niece Dominique, son in-law Jamal Turner and her great-niece Shyanne Turner; nephew Jason, daughter in-law Nichelle, great-niece Jachelle and great- nephews Nicolai and Jahir West; her nephew Michael A. Pearson, Jr, daughter in-law Misty, great-nieces Curryn Henry, Journey Pearson, and great-nephews Michael A. Pearson III, and Mathai Pearson; nephew Ryan and daughter-in law Keona, great-nephews Kairos and Keitaro Pearson; nephew Dayal and great-niece Aja and great- nephew Kahlil Williams. Goddaughter Melissa Carter and godson Keegan Derricott. She also has a host of cousins that are too numerous to mention.