Obituary of I'Asia L Gee- Azzez

I said to myself and to God, “I wanted Asia to change the world” and in that moment, I got the answer, “But SHE did” – Dr. Samone Smith-Brown I’asia LaChante’ Gee-Azeez, known lovingly as Asia or Asj by most family and friends, was born on March 17, 1992 in Mt. Holly, NJ. Asia was called to her eternal home to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Asia was educated in the Willingboro School District, graduating from Burlington County Institute of Technology. She was a varsity letter soccer player all four years of high school and was named all-county in her senior year. Asia furthered her education and attended Fairleigh Dickinson University (Florham Campus) in Madison, NJ. Asia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Marketing. While at FDU, Asía was a beloved sister of Phi Sigma Sigma, Zeta Theta Chapter at Fairleigh Dickinson University and pledged Phi Sigma Sigma in the Spring of 2011. Her impact was immediately felt through the various positions she held within the organization, and she consistently showed up for all of her sisters and the FDU community at large. While she was an active member, Asía was also Recruitment Chair, Philanthropic Chair, and served on the executive board of the chapter and in other committees. Her spirit and leadership helped make the Zeta Theta chapter the Greek chapter of the year 2012-2013 as well other community awards; the same year she served on the e-board. Asía always gave love, support, and demonstrated true sisterhood toward her sisters, the chapter, and the entire organization — shining in her bonds as a Little and Big to her sisters. Always kind, loving, supportive and loyal. She was a leader, an empath, and such a powerful and positive influence in other’s lives. Asía always gave love, support, and demonstrated true sisterhood toward her sisters, the chapter, and the entire organization. Once a Phi Sigma Sigma, Always a Phi Sigma Sigma. LITP Asia began her employment history working at Arthur J. Gallagher in Short Hills, NJ as a Marketing Coordinator and Booker Software in New York, NY as a Client Success Specialist. Asia then began her career at New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJCEDV). I’Asia served as the Communications Coordinator for NJCEDV for six years. She was a creative visionary who worked for change through public awareness; sharing their mission, information, resources, and messages of hope throughout New Jersey and beyond. She created beautiful social media assets through art and writing, organized content creation, developed newsletters, managed the website, and brought her gentle but fierce advocacy to our anti-violence work. I’Asia was intentional about ensuring her work was inclusive and accessible to survivors and people of all identities. She was a key member of NJCEDV’s Change Team, courageously working to combat oppression and create equity in domestic violence services. She viewed her role as a way to shift culture, beliefs, and values of the public about anti-violence work as a whole. Most of all, she was intentional about making sure her work was heart-led. She was committed to collective liberation and freedom. The Team all said that she made everything that she touched more beautiful. Her heart and spirit was a bright light to the team that will never be dimmed, and it will live on through each person that she has touched. She was a grounding force that reminded everyone to slow down, rest, and take care of their spirits. I’Asia always put humanity first and taught them through her actions how transformational that truly can be. She was so much more than a colleague - she was their sister and their friend. They love her deeply, and they will honor her life by practicing the wisdom and radical love that she shared with them all. In 2019, Asia met her forever partner Olusola Azeez and they wed on February 5, 2020 in Newark, NY. They welcomed their beautiful daughter Zara on April 4, 2022. Asia accepted Christ at an early age. She was baptized at St. Mark A.M.E. Church in Lindenwold, NJ, where she was a member of the YPD’ers (Young People Department). Asia had many pastimes and was a part of many organizations. Beginning with her love for soccer at the age of 7, she played until she graduated high school. Asia was an avid reader and wanted to explore the world to experience as much as she could and see how much of what she was reading about was true. Like her Pop-pop, Asia had a love for swimming, crabbing and beaches, always being referred to as a little fish. As Asia began to grow into the beautiful woman she was, she became a member of the National Coalition of a Hundred Black Women and The Women of Color Taskforce of NJCEDV, amongst many others. She also started her own organizations called Empowering HER and Girl Warrior. She was preceded in death by her Pop-Pop, Leamen E. Gee Sr and her great-grandparents, Frank and Helen Spady Sr, and Lawrence and Betty Gee. Asia leaves a devoted family and a host of friends to cherish her memories. Surviving are her husband, Olusola Azeez and daughter Zara of Irvington, NJ, mother, Chandra Smith and step-father, Chereif Smith and two brothers, Nasir Gee and Chereif Smith II, all of Mt. Laurel, NJ. Grandmother, Teresa Gee of Browns Mills, NJ. One uncle & aunt, Leamen and Monica Gee Jr. (Sicklerville, NJ). Special Friend Seniqua Sherman, 3 special “Aunts” and a host of great aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. There are no words that can express how much I’asia will truly be missed. She was a force in everything she touched, and she loved fiercely. As always, we will rejoice that she is now at rest and in the arms of Jesus.