April Shauntay (McGee) Vincent

April Shauntay Vincent, age 33, of Sugar Land, TX, passed away on July 12, 2020, after a long and courageous battle with bile duct cancer. Born in St. Joseph, MI, on February 7, 1987, to wonderful parents Michael and Sandra McGee, April grew up in Benton Harbor, MI, where she graduated salutatorian from Benton Harbor High School in 2004. April was a long-time member of St. Paul Baptist Church and subsequently became a member of NorthRidge Church (Plymouth, MI) and The Life Church (Memphis, TN).

After high school, she completed degrees in psychology and community counseling at Michigan State University (MSU) and Valparaiso University, respectively. She then spent several years serving Michigan families in social worker roles before dedicating her time and energy to her children and husband in 2014 as a homemaker.

April was a loving, compassionate person who, although introverted, enjoyed being silly. She had the most beautiful smile and laugh that could light up your soul.

April loved family game nights, cheering on her MSU Spartan basketball and football teams (although the suspense became overwhelming at times), and spending time with family laughing and telling stories. She would spend hours playing games and reminiscing about old times, with conversations often stretching to the next morning.

The relationship April had with her sister, Durriyyah, was not like any other. Although they were aged seven years apart, this gap did not preclude them from being as close as humanly possible. Riyah was a wonderful big sister who taught April plenty about life, education, and relationships. When April would see her sister, her whole face would light up and time would just be lost.

Her husband, Julius Vincent, was her knight in shining armor. After meeting while students at MSU, they became great friends. Several years later, they married on May 27, 2011. April’s beauty is not the only characteristic Julius was attracted to. He equally appreciated her intellectual abilities. She was the smartest woman he’d ever met. And we are all grateful that their children inherited April’s, not Julius’, intellectual gifts.

April’s best friend, Shayna Cummings, gave new meaning to the word “friend.” In fact, she was more like a sister. Throughout the years, her friendship with April never wavered. She was always there, and we are grateful for her being a ray of sunshine in April’s life.

Most of all, April loved and adored her three children. They were her world and she wanted nothing more than to watch them grow and help nurture them to adulthood. Now, this will be done from a Heavenly vantage point. Thankfully, however, we are still reminded daily of her presence and memory, especially through her daughter Nylah’s similar mannerisms. Nylah and her siblings will ensure their mother’s memory and legacy live on forever. 

April was preceded in death by her grandparents, Rebecca McGee, Zebedee Cockerham, and William Bealim. April is survived by her loving children, Nylah, Kaden, and Jackson Vincent; husband, Julius Vincent; siblings, Durriyyah Kemp, Breyana McGee, and Tepesto Joiner; mother, Sandra McGee; father, Michael (Esther) McGee; grandmother, Bertha Curtis; nephew, Jordan Kemp; nieces, Naomi and Rosalie Vincent; goddaughter, Savannah Cummings; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

April will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

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