Tamara Loriston was born on June 1, 1998 at the Broward Health hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and passed on October 23, 2019 at Memorial Hospital in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She is survived by her parents, Stephanie Blaise and Danley Loriston and her sister Wendlyca Loriston.
Growing up, Tamara was the diva and protector of the house. She would always be the one to protect her older sister Wendlyca. She took nothing from anyone and made it very clear that she wasn’t the one to cross. She was always goofy, playing pranks, joking around, and playing computer games with Wendlyca. She was so determined and persistent. Once she set her mind to do something no one could say or do anything to change her mind.
As a child, Tamara wanted to be a singer. Her mother bought her a guitar to help Tamara develop her musical talent. It wasn’t until the 8th grade that Tamara had a change of heart. She realized that her true passion was writing. She had a deep love for words and how, if crafted together correctly, they could bring out the deepest emotions. Words spoke to her in a way that no other art form could. There were times when she would come across a poem or short passage, and she could not wait to share with her friends how moved she felt by the words.
In high school, Tamara was a part of the Year Book Club, DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), and Cheerleading. One of the most memorable moments was when she traveled to China with her school. This was an eye-opening experience for her that she would never forget.
After high school, Tamara attended the University of Central Florida to pursue a major in Creative Writing with minors in Diversity & Social Inequality and Writing & Rhetoric. During her time at UCF, she was a member of the (writing club), (honor society), a Resident Assistant on-campus, and maintained a 3.9 GPA. When it came to her classes Tamara was on top of it all. She was driven to achieve stellar grades and committed to learn all that she could to excel as a writer. During her sophomore year, she took a screenwriting class and loved it. That class helped her to realize that she wanted to tackle screenwriting in the future and set her writing career on a new trajectory.
Also, during this time, she decided that she wanted to write a book. She was so excited about this new chapter of her writing career. She spent countless hours creating the plot, developing characters, and making sure her outline flowed together. When junior year came, she put pen to paper and began writing. She spent many late nights dedicating her time to complete as much as she could. She was looking forward to finishing her book so the whole world could experience her work. She always talked about going on future book tours with her friends. Before she passed, she was able to complete the first draft of the entire book.
As a Resident Assistant, Tamara lived on-campus in the Neptune community and helped to facilitate a safe environment for the residents on her floor. She loved the job, as she made connections with her residents and most importantly fostered great friendships with the people on the Neptune staff. In the office, one could find Tamara doing homework, cracking jokes with her coworkers, and from time to time would organize karaoke sessions with her co-workers. This was the first job Tamara ever had and she performed her duties with pride and conviction.
When Tamara wasn’t writing or studying, she would spend time with her friends and family. She cultivated strong relationships with the ones she loved. Family was extremely important to her and she was the backbone for her mother, father, and sister. Anytime they needed her advice or just a person to talk to, Tamara was always there. Even for her friends, Tamara always knew exactly what to say. She was very wise for her age and gave advice as if she had lived through that experience. She never liked seeing her friends unhappy. She would drop whatever she was doing to be there for her friends -- whether it be a shoulder to cry on or even to tag along for a late-night food run. Tamara was the epitome of a “ride or die.”
Tamara was a Christian who had a very strong relationship with God. It was remarkable how spiritual she was at such a young age. She posted Bible verses everywhere including her phone and throughout her room. Her relationship with Him played a major role in the decisions she made and her life in general. Her faith in God is so inspiring. Those who knew how deeply spiritual she was can attest that her faith made them strive to strengthen their own relationship with God. While in Orlando, she attended Lifetime Community church.
Tamara made such a tremendous impact on the lives of the people who knew her. She always knew what to say when others couldn’t find the right words. Tamara Loriston will be truly missed. She leaves behind a legacy that will live on forever.
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