Rebecca Pratt

Rebecca is survived by her three children: Kamari, Joshua and Destiny Britt; three siblings, Charlotte McAfee (Arnold), Carla Pratt, and Craig Pratt, Sr. (Jennifer); four nieces and nephews, Javin McAfee, Carole Brionna Pratt, Jordyn Pratt, and Craig Pratt, Jr.; and a special sister, Andrea Richardson, (Keith); all living in the South Florida area; uncle, Jimmie Hayes (Houston), aunt, Eddielean Blair (California), and Lovella Dickson (Houston).  She is also mourned by hosts of extended family members, friends and business associates.

Rebecca was the third daughter born to the late Ernest and Carole on July 2, 1972 and was raised in Hallandale, FL until the age of five. She was the third child of four born into the family that grew to six members. The Pratt family eventually moved to the city of Miramar and later, Miami Gardens. Rebecca was educated in the Broward County, FL school system and graduated from Nova High School in Davie, Florida with the Class of 1990.

Rebecca continued her education at Clark Atlanta University and earned a bachelor’s in social work and graduated with the Class of 1996. She also recently completed her course work with Master’s International University of Divinity in Evanston, IL, earning an M.A. in Biblical counseling.

Rebecca had her first daughter, Kamari, in February of 1996 and put all her training in social work and ministry to good use building a life for the two of them. She had grown up in a Christian home watching her parents, who were devoted ministers, help and love others, and chose a similar path.  She began her 25-year career in service to those in need as a counselor at a women’s crisis center during her senior year at Clark Atlanta. She then helped remediate at-risk youths in the Dade County School System when she retuned home in 1996.

Rebecca later became a Foster Care Case Manager for the Department of Children and Families in 1998. In 2001, she left DCF to join Bright Style, Inc., the family company, after her father, Ernest became too ill to function as Executive Director. However, she chose to remain an administrator there for years after his return to help complete his mission to provide rehabilitative services to developmentally and intellectually challenged adults in Broward County. The bond between them had always been close. They often had coffee together in the office while discussing matters at hand. She stayed with Bright Style, Inc. until it closed in 2017 four years after his death in 2014.

Rebecca married Richard Britt in 2002 and became parents to Joshua and Destiny during their 14-year union. Kamari became the big sister in this family of five. Rebecca spent those years as a dedicated wife and mother and also active in her local church. She was an ordained evangelist in the Church of God of Prophecy, a Sunday School teacher, Youth Ministries Director, Liturgical Dance Director, and member of the Praise and Worship Team. Later, she served as a greeter at Deeper Fellowship Church in Orlando, FL., when she moved there briefly in 2017.

Rebecca was always expanding her ability to impact the world. She loved horses and was training to help disabled children rehabilitate through horse therapy at Caloosa Sanctuary Farm. She supported the value of life in her position as Assistant Director at Hope Women’s Centers by helping many women facilitate their choice to complete their crisis pregnancies. She stood for a better America and fought for the rights of every citizen to be respected. She journeyed on prayer missions around the nation to ask God to continue to bless the United States.

Rebecca wore many hats and meant so much to many people. She had about as many nicknames as she did roles. She was Becky to most, Becker, Beckster and Beck to some. But to her most intimates she was Precie—coined by her mom and big sisters as an offshoot of her middle name, Caprice. To a scant few she was simply Pre. Most tenderly she is remembered as Mommy and Sis. She is also called legendary for mac & cheese casserole, conch fritters, soul-style spaghetti and Thanksgiving dressing. She earned the nickname, Queen of Side Dishes!

To know Rebecca was to know the perfect gift to give her was anything Tiffany blue, or green and black—her favorite colors. A picture or painting, book or sculpture of horses was always appropriate, even more so than jewelry. She lived by her father’s words, “It’s not going to happen unless you make it happen,” and “Count the costs.” She did have her own motto, though, “Do what you can, not what you can’t,” which was her advice to people who were taking too much on at one time and becoming overwhelmed. She knew how to get tremendous amounts done and accomplish goals by pacing oneself and never giving up. She soldiered on by faith. If it is possible to sum up Rebecca in one word (which it isn’t really possible), it would be the single word on a sign the family asked the Critical Care nurse to place on the wall of her room in her direct eyeshot, “GRIT.”

It means courage and resolve; strength of character, tenacity and perseverance. They wanted her to fight her way back to them—to her kids, especially. FIGHT she did with every labored breath. One big one for Destiny. . . Another one for Josh. . . A huge heave for Kamari who was battling Covid at the same time. GRIT in front of her, GRIT inside. She pushed out every exhale. Prayers surrounded her from around the country. Angels stepped in and Heaven prevailed. She was more than a conqueror of disease and the cares of this world.

Rebecca believed in God and the Son of God and His gift of salvation and she has been rewarded for her faithfulness with eternal rest. Those who mourn will soon turn to rejoicing in her memory and the fullness she has left behind. She is one who will rise again.