Yesterday, I was thinking of a little memory of China.  So simple but when we roomed together in college, she taught me to leave a razor in the shower to keep up the daily habit of shaving. It's such a silly thing, but living with her I learned  so many little things  I still do today because of her.  I was so green back then, that I needed a China-li in my life.   I  learned a whole lot about life from China.   I had never met anyone like her.  She was a big city girl with  a downhome country heart.  She was real, unapologetically real.  She had such an open mind and cared deeply for people that were considered "less than".  She was ahead of her time in so many ways.  While I understood going to church on Sundays, China taught me how to live church everyday; to be spiritual in all that I did.  
 To live with China: (in that apartment on Hovey in Normal, IL) well, that was a fun and interesting experience. She wore high heel gym shoes.  Some new outfit was bedazzled almost weekly.  Lots of attempts at creating fancy Thai dishes using our  meager college food supplies. And the makeup!!  oh the makeup!  She spent hours perfecting her look.  
  When I learned today she lost the battle, my heart broke for the world.  We needed more people like China.  I was honored to know her and blessed to get to know her during a formative time in life.  My deepest condolences to her family.  

(Pt. 2)
In fact, she was "woke" before the term was even popular to use. She was so aware and sincere. Her specialness was reiterated when she connected me to be an option as a sitter for this family who adopted children of a different race. I don't know what else to say about China than I wish I had more memories.
These pictures are from our years together at Scholastica. I made an effort to take pictures of all my friends our last month in school together. We had sat adjacent to study during our free period, I got her just before she left for class. These photos are dear to me.  They've been in my album since that time. Every time I look at them I'm reminded of the wonderful friends I had, and China was certainly the cream of the crop.
I am so glad she found unwavering love in her husband and was able to pass her love, compassion, sincerity, honesty and conviction to her children. I love China and will continue to miss her dearly.

(Pt.1)
China was one of few high school friends I often thought of and hoped to reconnect with. I'm not sure how we lost touch, but I was disappointed I did not have any means of contacting her once her family moved from Chase. Nonetheless, whenever I thought of her, I could not help but smile and pray that all is well with her. To finally have the opportunity to catch up with her only to find out her family and she have been experiencing such incredible trials, I was heartbroken. All of you have been in my prayers these past 2 months and will continue to be. I am so saddened to know that she lost this battle. But she was a fighter, and she fought for as long as she could. I hope that you all can find peace knowing that she no longer has to suffer.
China and I became friends due to circumstances I was so incredibly happy for. We were lab partners. I believe Biology was the only class we ever had together and I looked forward to it because she was my partner. I learned about vegetarianism from her. When the time came to dissect a pig, I learned the depths of her choice to be a vegetarian (ha). I didn't want to dissect that pig, but she had made a personal vow, so she diagramed and observed while I did the work. I wish I could say we were inseparable after that (it was incredibly bonding), but because of our schedules and personal interests, school was the only time we got to spend together. 
Whenever I think about our times together, there is not one moment where I can recall China saying anything negative about anyone. She often had a smile on her face and she was naturally optimistic and loving. When she wasn't smiling, I knew something was up. We would talk about things when this would occur, and I could never understand why anyone would do and say the things they did to hurt her. My memories of China? ... She did not have one mean bone in her body. She did not speak rudely, was not unkind to others in any situation, and was incredibly thoughtful.  In fact...

OBITUARY

China-Li Erica Hyland Smith

13 March, 1976 – 9 November, 2020

Palm Cheyenne Mortuary

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