Miss Briana Latrice Gather, 20, passed away on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville, NC. She was born on September 3, 1990 in Winston-Salem, NC to Dennis Gather, Sr. and Renata Leonard.
She had a vivacious personality that attracted many friends. She was a dependable leader with the ability to influence her peers in positive ways. Briana set admirable goals and was highly motivated to accomplish them.
Briana was an active participant in the church community. She was a member of St. Peter's Church and World Outreach Center where she completed the School of Leadership classes. She was a member of the step team, choir, and a youth praise dancer.
She was a junior at East Carolina University and majored in biology. Briana was a chemical laboratory intern at Syngenta Crop Protection where she performed experiments utilizing innovative research and technology. She was a member of the Black Student Union and inducted into the Golden Key International Society. Briana was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was a resident assistant at Aycock Hall and served as a positive role model to several ECU students. Briana continued to maintain relationships with members of the community and traveled extensively to several states.
Briana was a 2008 graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, North Carolina. She was an NCSSM student ambassador and assisted alumni and prospective students. She was also a member of the Hispanics Club and later traveled to Argentina. Briana provided campus tours, worked with the admissions staff and food service, and was a fashion show and talent director.
She worked as an assistant to the NCSSM summer service coordinator and served as a teacher's aide. She was a peer tutor, a Discovery Day partner, an assistant with the Winston-Salem Children's Museum, Samaritan Ministries and Durham Ministries, an ECU pen pals aide, and an ECU-READS/COUNTS tutor. She volunteered as a Big Sister and was a chemistry tutor.
Briana maintained a 4.0 grade point average while enrolled at the Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. She participated in track and field and volleyball and was a member of the yearbook staff and a cheerleader.
Briana was a very determined individual. She was a person of integrity and committed to excellence in every endeavor. East Carolina University has created a scholarship in her honor.
Briana is survived by her mother, Renata Leonard of Winston-Salem, NC, and her father Dennis Gather, Sr. of Columbus, Ohio. Briana's survivors also include maternal grandparents, Delbert Leonard and Dorothy Mae Coy of Glen Jean, West Virginia; paternal grandmother, Gwendolyn Jackson of Savannah, Georgia; a sister, Kyshanna Gather of Winston-Salem, NC and a brother, Dennis Gather, Jr. of Pittsburg, PA; dear friends, Shalece Gilliam and Nichole Parker; and a host of loving friends and relatives.
The homegoing celebration for Briana Gather will begin at 1pm Saturday, November 27, 2010 at St. Peter's World Outreach Center, 3683 Old Lexington Road, Winston-Salem, with Bishop James C. Hash, Sr. officiating. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation and viewing will be held from 12noon until 1pm on Saturday the church.