Juliette Yvonne Softli

REFLECTIONS OF LIFE

Juliette Yvonne Softli

Juliette Yvonne Softli was born Friday, May 31, 1963, to the union of Cecil Richmond Softli and Dorothy Mae McRae Softli.  She was the youngest of their blended family of 6 children: three girls and three boys.

      Named after her father’s favorite aunt in Guyana, West Indies, she was affectionately called “Ju-Babe” by the family and “Julie” by everyone else.  As the baby of the family, she was their pride and joy; and her elder siblings fiercely protected her.  Her only other care-givers as a child were her God-parents, Uncle Bob and Aunt Katie Softli. 

As a native Seattleite, she was educated in the Seattle Public School District.  Julie attended Smith Bible Academy, Madrona and Brighton Elementary Schools, Sharples Junior High School (now known as Aki Kurose), and graduated from Franklin High School in 1981.  In addition, she graduated from Barbizon Modeling School and Seattle Central Community College, majoring in General Studies.

Even as a child, Julie was very particular about how she wanted things and had an outgoing and engaging personality.  While in elementary school, she joined the Rainer Playfield Cheerleaders and soon became a captain.  Ironically, she had the ability to “rally” people her entire life.  Julie was gifted with connecting diverse personalities, despite socio-economic backgrounds or family structure.  She enjoyed socializing and having a good time, but also intentionally ensured that others were included as well.  Julie was also fiercely independent - wanting to do things on her own.   As a young, single-mother, she defied the odds of becoming a statistic by utilizing all her family resources, developing her skills and staying focused – and she did it while “always looking cute”.

While Julie had done some modeling work, in 1986, she began her professional career in the Health Care industry as a Home Dialysis Technician.  In May 1990, she was employed by Northwest Kidney Centers and began working in their units and truly valued caring for “her” patients.  For the past 15 years, she worked at the West Seattle unit.

      Julie never married (certainly not due to a lack of eligible bachelors), but she was blessed to become a mother on March 3, 1981, to a beautiful bouncing baby boy named Cornelius F. Jones, IV aka “B.B.”  While she had a few “special friends” over the years, her son (and subsequent grandchildren) was the true love of her life.  She also loved EVERYONE in her extended family dearly, never discriminating - a quality instilled from her parents.

Although she was known as no-nonsense, opinionated and outspoken, Julie was funny at the same time.  She was also known for her “Sister-Circle” a tight-knit group of ladies who had cultivated friendships over decades.  If you really knew Julie, then you also knew or heard of Sara, Sheila, Marty, Christie, Lennie, Debbie, Connie, Gwen, and her co-workers: Tanya, April, Lisa and Fred, to name a few.  Most notably, as a little girl, Julie’s favorite cousin Gina, introduced her to another cheerleader.   Julie and Nina formed a friendship that would span over 40 years, sharing high school, college, their first jobs at the Seattle Center, their career paths in the Health Care industry, traveling together, and god-mother to each other’s sons.  There are secrets Julie and Nina share that we don’t EVER need to know about!

      In July 2007, when her niece’s husband (LaMont & Felicia) was appointed as Pastor, Julie made a decision to support them.  In the process, she immediately gave her heart to the Lord and joined Restoration Life Church in August 2007.  As she grew in her faith, she listened intently to the sermons and could often be heard saying “ooo-wee”, when the Pastor spoke on something a little too challenging for her.  She faithfully served the Hospitality and Usher Ministries, and the Homeless Ministry.  In January 2012, Julie became the Director of the Homeless Ministry, training and leading a team each month to ensure that the homeless of downtown Seattle were fed a hot meal and received clothing, shoes and toiletries.  Committed to learning, Julie was present whenever a Training Class was scheduled, taking notes, asking questions and willing to apply whatever the subject or new procedure was.  If you were absent, she’d hold you accountable by asking “where were you?”  Most recently, Julie was a member of the Kent Small Group Bible Study and faithfully attended on Tuesday evenings.  She loved the intimate setting and asking questions about applying the Bible to her personal life situations.  Her Spiritual Growth was evident in her willingness and effectiveness to often lead prayer.

In February 2015, after much prayer and counsel with her Pastors, Julie decided to formally pursue her “passion of compassion” specifically for homeless women.  She interviewed and was hired as a part-time employee of Hammond House Women’s Shelter and looked forward to making a greater impact with practical ministry in the lives of the disadvantaged.  Her desire was to ultimately transition into working full-time in Homeless Ministry.

Following in the pattern of her parents, Julie was very hospitable and enjoyed hosting family events for Holidays, Girls Night Out and Special Events.  If she wasn’t opening her own home to gather with family and friends, she could be found in the kitchen helping someone else host an event.  She was the “bridge” in many relationships on the family tree because she valued each branch.  One of her greatest joys each year was planning the annual camping trip the second week of July for the 3 generations of her siblings, their children and grandchildren.  It was a time with no electronics, dedicated to quality family fun.  This year was no different, she was even making camping plans on Tuesday, July 30th on her break at work.

      On Thursday afternoon, July 2, 2015, our Heavenly Father dispatched an angel to bring her home for eternal rest.  She is now free from Lupus and the complications of her recent health challenge with Pneumonia.  For all of her efforts to help others, she has received the ultimate promotion!

Julie was preceded in death in her immediately family by her Father, Cecil R. “Speedy” Softli (January, 25, 2005); Mother, Dorothy Mae “Dot” Softli (March 19, 2005); and her eldest Sister, Martha Ann Moore (Oct. 7, 2011). 

      Cherishing her memory is her only child: Cornelius “B.B.” Francis Jones IV (Tanesha); 5 grandchildren: Kiyree, Clemeshia, Tre-Vaughn, Karima, and Cornelius V aka “Tiger”; 3 brothers: Howard T. Smith, Seattle; John Clinton Smith (Charlette), Puyallup; Larry Welch (Charlotte), Renton and 1 sister, Sherrie Softli of New York.  She often served as a surrogate mother for most of her 20+nieces and nephews [Dorothy Denise, Michael, Tony, Felicia (& LaMont); Howard, Jerron, Alishia, Kaleana, Eric, Rico, Leshia; John, Angel, Shawna (& Cedric), Jontae, Rhonda Quiera, Sir Clinton, Zaria; Leighton, Xaviera (Coco), Sharon, Lawrence, Jerome, Tanisha, Larry, and Virnae; Charlene, Charles, Rashon); 30+ great-nieces and nephews and 5+ great-great nieces and nephews.

Additionally, there are 5 Aunts: Muriel Softli of Seattle, Linda Softli of Washington DC, Katherine Softli, Diane Softli-Hoff, and Katie Softli (Julie’s Godmother) all of Seattle;  3 Uncles: Tony Softli (Edna), of Seattle; twins-Willie McRae and Jack McRae of Los Angeles, CA;  20 first-cousins (Tony, Cynthia, Erin, Maureen, Jeff, Lisa, Joe, Gina, Tilo, Moya, and Victor – all in Seattle) countless extended family, special friends, co-workers, her “Sister-Friend Circle” and 1 God-sister, Barbara Martin. 

We celebrate Julie’s Life, Laugh and Heart for others.  We’ll remember her forever!