April Nichole Stokes

 

    April Nichole Stokes, a loving daughter, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and greatly loved by many, gained her angel wings surrounded by her loved ones, Friday night August 30, 2024.

April was born March 22, 1978 in Orlando, Fl, 1 month early, which began her trait of always doing things her way! April led a happy childhood but was diagnosed at the age of 12 with Juvenile Diabetes which began taking a toll on her health immediately. Despite dozens of hospitalizations and eye surgeries and the demand has caused on her health, she was determined to have children. With her love, Bill Miller, they have two beautiful, now adult children, Harley Brianne and Kodie Ray Miller. Anyone who knew April or just met her knew what joy and amazement and love they shared. April’s sweet personality allowed her to only see the best in everyone. She adopted Chelsea “Alice” Goetz when she was 14, after her father passed. Thru her relationship with Del Beach she also shared the role of loving mother to Braelynne Beach. She greatly loved her children, those born to her and those chosen by her. April’s love, kindness, generosity and playfulness has and will continue to grow with them throughout their lives.

April’s love of God, animals, art, the beach, all things nature was evidenced thru her selfless day to day life. Annually she participated in Walkathons for the American Diabetes Foundation as a Red Strider and later joined the Breast Cancer Awareness Walks which began her tradition of dying her hair pink along with her bichon Piper! 

April was an amazing artist, creating wall murals, drawings, jewelry, and had a knack of repurposing old broken items into amazing new creations. Towards the end of her illness April painted fantastic, playful murals on all the walls of her bedroom which should belong in a children’s hospital or Disney movie! 

While we are so hurt because she has been taken from us, we rejoice in the knowledge that she is now without pain or suffering and is with our Lord Jesus Christ and those that have passed before her. 

April’s loving spirit is carried on by her children, Harley Miller, Kodie Miller, Alice Goetz, and Braelynne Beach; her mother, Jean and stepfather, Sonny; her grandmother, Theresa Mixon; her brothers Nick Shagena, Darryl Mixon & Mark Long; her sister, Brooke Mixon; along with her step brother, Lance Harrison and step sister, Karla Vega; as well as her brand new niece, Athena Shagena.

She is preceded by her grandparents, Shirley Rachel and William Raymond; and her fathers, Brian Shagena and Duane Mixon.