Leahre Michelle Footman-Dacil

When Leahre Michelle was born on June 20, 1963, a beautiful new rainbow of promise shone brilliantly in the lives of Rosa Hammett Footman (deceased) and Joseph Leroy Footman, Sr., during his service in the United States Air force in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Michelle was the first Black student to attend K-8 grades at Keene Adventist Elementary School in Keene, Texas.  It was there that her musical skills developed as she sang in the choir, played the hand bells, and made a recording with the ensemble.  Michelle advanced to playing the piano flute, and trombone.  She was baptized by the late Pastor Ron Halverson, and from an early age, Michelle’s father remembers hearing her make a commitment to become a missionary one day. 

Michelle continued her education at Forest Lake Academy where she worked at the Florida Hospital Laundry. She completed her GED after 10th grade, and began to create mission fields wherever she was placed.  Although Michelle earned a certificate in phlebotomy, her first love was children.  Therefore, Michelle became one of the first teacher’s assistants at the new Mt. Sinai Child Development Center -  she worked there for over twenty years! Then, about 12 years ago Michelle sought to build a better life for her children and moved on to work at Florida Hospital in Medical Records, and then Billing and Coding after earning her certification.

Michelle leaves her beautiful children to celebrate her legacy - Joshua Footman (Ayanna) and Ashleigh Lawrence (Richard); grandchildren – Zoe Footman and Ethan Footman; parents – Joseph and Alpha Q. Footman, Sr.; siblings – Lisa Foster (Glenn), Rose Footman, Janet Montgomery (Patrick), Debbie Williams (Rodriquez), Joseph Footman, Jr. (Teresa), Antoinette Chaney (deceased), James Austin and Bert Wilkerson; nieces and nephews – Bethany, Rosa, Caorry (Katrina), Carlton, Terri, Elisabeth, Lexington, Johnny, Thomas, Anderson (Max), Bert, Jamar, Lequanza (Ashani) and Gabriel; grandnieces and nephews – Amiah, Avion and Ashton; and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, family members, church family, friends and “adopted family” including many of her “children” – youth whose lives she touched everywhere she ministered.

When Michelle wakes up on resurrection morning, she plans to organize a reunion concert around the Tree of Life.  She is going to need your soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices to add to the heavenly harmony of…

When I see Jesus, my eyes will fill with tears

When I see Jesus, I’ll think of all the years

He has brought me through

When I see Jesus, the first thing I’ll do

Is say, “I love you, too.”

By L. Foster

Michelle loved Jesus, and worked to share His love with many through music ministry and as a Spiritual ambassador at Florida Hospital until God called her to rest. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE!

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