Brenda Lee Marquez-McCool was dancing with her son Isaiah Henderson at
Pulse nightclub when shots rang out over the blaring music. Instead of
running away, she threw herself on her son, shielding him from shooter
Omar Mateen. She died protecting her son, pictured in the middle crying.
Pulse nightclub when shots rang out over the blaring music. Instead of
running away, she threw herself on her son, shielding him from shooter
Omar Mateen. She died protecting her son, pictured in the middle crying.
McCoo,
49, was a two-time cancer survivor. Her sister-in-law Ada Pressley told
the New York Daily News that McCool saw gunman Omar turn his assault
rifle at her and her son and said:
49, was a two-time cancer survivor. Her sister-in-law Ada Pressley told
the New York Daily News that McCool saw gunman Omar turn his assault
rifle at her and her son and said:
“Get
down,’ to Isaiah and she got in front of him,”. She was shot dead.
That’s how much she loved her kids. If it weren’t for her, he’d have been
shot.”
At her funeral at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando today, Henderson, 21, broke down as he paid heartfelt
tribute to his mother, almost unable to stand while he spoke.
tribute to his mother, almost unable to stand while he spoke.
“I never thought that her life would be ended right in front of my
eyes,” he said, sobbing. “My mother accepted everyone with open arms.
She loved everybody equally, no matter what.”
His brothers rushed to the pulpit to hold him up and console him.
“I haven’t stopped crying since,” Henderson said.
The funeral was also full of humor and colorful moments as
Marquez-McCool’s family remembered her life. She was repeatedly referred
to as a resilient woman who was a family leader and a fighter.
Marquez-McCool’s family remembered her life. She was repeatedly referred
to as a resilient woman who was a family leader and a fighter.
Henderson said he and his mother used to
wrestle and “play fight,” adding that his mother always won. “I
obviously lost. She’s a linebacker!” he joked. His family roared with
laughter.
wrestle and “play fight,” adding that his mother always won. “I
obviously lost. She’s a linebacker!” he joked. His family roared with
laughter.
Many of Marquez-McCool’s 11 children spoke. Her brother Michael Santos
was the only one of her siblings to offer words of remembrance, and he
struggled at times to get through them.
was the only one of her siblings to offer words of remembrance, and he
struggled at times to get through them.
“I have nothing to say to you because my heart is on fire. I have no
words,” said Santos.
words,” said Santos.
He spoke fondly of their Puerto Rican heritage and
said that his sister was quite the dancer, the life of the party. He
looked toward heaven and asked her to “tell Jesus to step up the salsa
game.”
said that his sister was quite the dancer, the life of the party. He
looked toward heaven and asked her to “tell Jesus to step up the salsa
game.”
Robert Pressley Jr., another of Marquez-McCool’s sons, joined his
friends near the altar and sang a tribute to his mother, at times
pulling the microphone away from his mouth and holding down his head as
he struggled to finish the song through tears.
friends near the altar and sang a tribute to his mother, at times
pulling the microphone away from his mouth and holding down his head as
he struggled to finish the song through tears.
Source: ABC/AP