Obituary of Elaine Elizabeth Cash

Elaine Elizabeth Cash, 52, of Wilmington, Delaware departed this life on May 30, 2021 in Wilmington, Delaware. She was born in Long Branch, New Jersey and had resided in Monmouth County for most of her life. Elaine graduated from Lakewood High School. She attended Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey and Bethume-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Florida. Elaine was named Miss Talented Teen at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. She was a Certified Nursing Assistant. Elaine enjoyed helping people whether with a helping hand or moral support. She loved cooking especially for her Father who always loved her Three Bean Chili and Pumpkin Cheese Cake. Elaine was predeceased by her mother, Joyce Cash, Grandmother Elizabeth Cash and Glide Briggs and great grandmother Celestine Williams. She leaves behind to cherish her memories two daughters, Brittany Taylor of Wilmington Delaware and Egypt Cash of Delaware and one son, Ariel Coleman (former Destin Isiah Cash). Three sisters, Dashawn “Shanna” Cash of Apex, North Carolina, Muneerah Saleem of Las Vegas, Nevada, Sahairah Saleem of New Castle, Delaware. Two brother, Dawud L. Saleem of New Castle, Delaware and Jamar Shaheed Saleem of Farmingdale, NJ. One stepsister, Stephanie Saleem of Las Vegas, Nevada and one stepbrother, Blake Brooks of Farmingdale, NJ. She leaves four loving Aunts, Evelyn Atkinson of Howell, NJ, Margie Chambers of Reno, Nevada, Ruth Jackson of Freehold, NJ and Bessie Valentine of Clarksdale, Mississippi. She leaves four caring Uncles, Tommy Ghee of Newport News, VA., George Ford of Bronx, NY, Wilson Briggs of Springfield, Mass., Harry Briggs of Cherry Hill, NJ. Special Cousins, Timothy Cash of Brick, NJ (more like a brother), Lottie Jenkins (more like a sister) of Seattle, Washington, Marie Atkinson of Brooklyn, NY, Michelle Atkinson of Woodbridge, VA., Scott Atkinson of Maryland. Two grandchildren and a host of cousins, family and friends. The Holy Quran chapter 29: 57 &58 “Every soul shall have a taste of death, In the end to us shall ye be brought back, but those who believe and work deeds of righteous to them shall we give a home in heaven. Lofty mansions beneath which flowing rivers, to dwell therein aye (forever); An excellent reward for those who do (good)!” Personal Essay By Marie Atkinson (Anna Limontas-Salisbury) Cousins in many Black families are really siblings. We come from generations of families born of our mothers and raised in shared community of grandparents, aunties, uncles, extended family of neighbors and members of the same religious fellowship. We come from communities of people who knew us before we were sent to embody flesh. All the women who knew us went to school with our mothers. All the men who knew us worked with our fathers. Great Grandmother Celestine Williams reared her daughter, her daughter’s children and the generation after that. She reared each generation under one roof as one family, under God. Elaine Elizabeth Cash was the third great-granddaughter raised with her sister Dashawn, a.k.a “Shanna” and her cousins Tim, Marie, Michell, Keith and Nickie. Cousins Lianina, Kenneth and Francis would follow. Elaine was the cousin, sister and friend of many talents. She was a wonderful singer honing her skills in The Little Jewels choir and graduating to The Gospel Reflections at Second Baptist Church. Her voice drew hallelujahs and applause. She used it towin The Hal Jackson’s Talented Teen Contest in Ocean Country, 1985, with her cover of Denise Williams, “Black Butterfly.” She loved exploring new ways to do hair and makeup. Her thick black hair was like a TimeEx watch ad; ‘It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.’ It endured every hairstyle she dished out with every tool--the hot comb, the relaxer and the Gheri Curl. In the80’s she sported slick sides gelled back, with a tumble of poodle curls on top. She wore “The Pineapple” with grace. She was fly in her “Salt N Pepa” styled bi-level. She tweezed her eyebrows laser thin. Brushed bright hues of bronze, olive or emerald on her eyelids, finishing off with black eyeliner and Blast Off Burgundy on her lips. She changed her look so often that her Uncle Kenny couldn’t figure out who she was among the passengers arriving at a bus station and needed Aunt Evelyn’s help figuring which one she was. Uncle Kenny gave her the name, “Hollywood. ”She was a caring person, ready to lend a hand to any family member, especially when it came to caring for the sick, the way she had often done for friends and family in need. She was a determined type of person. Once she set her mind to doing something, it was going to happen. It had to. During one of our family cookouts at Aunt Evelyn’s, she was supposed to bring an extra grill. She showed up late in the day, but with hair and makeup on point. She began setting up the grill--it was the tin pan kind that people use in the park in the summer. As she was getting the grill ready she became impatient. She stirred the coals, added lighter fluid and stirred the coals some more. Elaine was always a “Come on now!” kind of person. She sprayed on another dose of lighter fluid. The flames shot up so high, we were sure that her beautiful eyebrows were gone. Whatever she was trying to cook never got made, but she served up the most Delicious, fall-to-your-knees, screaming laughter that day, and we told the story over and over again. I would be careless if I did not acknowledge Elaine’s full life experience. Like many, she had her seasons of struggle, fear and doubt--especially as a Black woman with promise but slim resources in America. She completed a program in Jersey City where she was training to work with women, learning case management in social services. She heard many stories and could identify with women in poverty, recovery and family services because she too lived that story. I’m a witness through our private conversations of life’s struggles where we as Black women have our nervous breakdowns at night but get up in the morning and try again. I’m a witness to her testimony that she knew the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy. Those first lessons of the bible and the Lord came from our Great-Grandmother, Celestine Williams. In her last days Elaine expressed missing the times of our youth, when our grandmother was the head of the family and we would gather around her table. Elaine was looking forward to becoming a grandmother Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV tells us: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Instead of becoming a grandmother, she transitioned to take on the highest role a human being can aspire to, by joining the spiritual realm. I see those on the Other Side greeting her, like Uncle Kenny, giving her a, “Hey, Hollywood, Hey! You made it!” Grandma Celestine ready with the prayer and invocation of the welcome home celebration. Our Sunday School teachers Ms. Pena and Ms. Hill presenting certificates of completion. Her mother, Joyce, with open arms for the grown baby daughter she has kept watch over for a lifetime. It wouldn’t be a welcoming without Aunt Pauline at the grill, fired up, ready for the ribs and burgers. Soul and Funk music she taught us to dance to after Soul Train ended ready on the boom box. Her best friend Leona Conover with the table set for Bid Whist and “Remember when’s”. And our Lord and Savior pleased, welcoming a daughter who endured the race until the end, to take her place in the choir to lead the selection. We will remember you, Black Butterfly. Rest in peace and power of life over death. ‘Cause now that you’re free and the world has come to see Just how proud and beautiful you are Black butterfly, sailed across the waters Tell your sons and daughters What the struggle brings Black Butterfly, set the skies on fire Rise up even higher So the ageless winds of time can catch your wings *Source Lyric Find Denise Williams “Black Butterfly” Songwriters: Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil Black Butterfly lyrics © DYAD Music Ltd., Wixen Music Publishing Source: Denise Williams, Black Butterfly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I87wCxykxyE