Obituaries

A beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, and friend, Marcela Renae Darris left us with so much heartache and wonderful memories on September 10, 2021. Born in St. Charles, MO on April 6,1995, to Gabriela (Ramírez) and Fred Darris. Marcela grew up in Rochester, MI, where she attended Brookfield Academy and Van Hoosen Middle school. Doll finished High School at Lake Orion Highschool and graduated from Wayne State University with aBachelor's in Criminal Justice and Spanish and a minor in Latinx and Latin American Studies. She was pursuing her dream to become an attorney at Wayne State Law. There she was a second-year law student, the Vice President of the Black Law Student Association, and member of the Latinx Law Student Association. She spent Summer 2021 as a fellow with Legal Services of Eastern Michigan in eviction defense and as a worker-owner of MARSH STL Food Cooperative doing food justice work. Marcela loved hard and lived to help lift up and encourage others in any way she could. She enjoyed dancing and listening to music. She was funny, outgoing, and vivacious, and also inspiring and introspective.

Marcelita, as her family called her, was fiercely loyal to her friends and family. We will always treasure her infectious smile, bright eyes, and caring personality. Her absence is deeply felt. When you think of Marcelita, celebrate the good memories you have of her. Remember that life is fragile and short and should be lived to the fullest — just like she did, always empowering her cousins to be themselves, enjoy life and to do their best. She showed her tender-heartedness when inviting people together and was quick to forgive. Marcela’s stubborn yet loving and empathetic charisma will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Marcela was preceded in death by her brother Edward Williams, great-grandmothers María de la Luz de Zavala, Soledad Gallardo Negrete and Virgina Darris, grandfather Walter Darris, uncle Irshaad Ameer, cousins Saabir Ameer and Andrew Ameer. She is remembered by her parents, sister Adriana; grandparents Graciela and Martín Ramírez, Mary and Cornelius Maclin; aunts Tía Veronica, Tía Marcela, Tía Susana, Shonda, Rochelle, Jaci, Jessi; uncle Nin; cousins Alejandro, Ashley, Antonio, Rashaad, Romel, Aanisah, Veronica, Isabel, Fernando, Ibrahim, Fadylah, Gaven, Adara, Luca, Mahdiya, Jordan, Arianna, Aliya and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 2nd at 8600Veteran’s Memorial Parkway from 4- 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that a donation be made in Marcela’s name to causes she was passionate about: anti-eviction work - Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (e.michbar.org) and food access -MARSH St. Louis (marshlife-art.org/support).