In Memory of Buenetta Stringham

The sun of her soul has faded, she has lifted to the sky, she is keeping watch over us, while she relaxes way up high. I am glad she is not suffering, peace has finally found her, but even though she is in a better place that does not mean we will not miss her. I know we will see her again, just you wait and see, all of us together Buenetta, Jesus, and me!

Buenetta Monteria Stringham was born February 4, 1949, to Robert L. Stringham and Serena Mae Simmons of Portland, OR. The union of this couple birthed a beautiful, witty, creative person, an artist with the ability to show that bright colors could show mood, feeling, attachment, and inspiration.

Buenetta understood her gift in artistry and that was to use artistic expression to tell a story and best of all, give God the glory.

Over the years Buenetta was an accomplished artist successfully working and creating in her craft for display and sale through the Artist Unlimited Gallery in Denver, Colorado, the South Pearl Street Art Fair, Art & Soul Artistry Display, and Shimmers Art Gallery through the former Denver Options Community Center Board.

In addition to working as an artist Buenetta worked as a successful box folder for 18 years through the Pizza Hut corporation. She always believed that her work was needed and important. Every time you ordered a pizza, and it was placed in a pizza box, it was put together and folded by the hands of Buenetta Stringham.

Buenetta was loving woman who wanted to be with family and that is what she received when she was welcomed into the Community Living Alternatives family in June of 1986. I know that Buenetta appreciated all the wonderful host families she had the opportunity to be a part of while with CLA, so thank Essie Warren and Family,

Melissa Sand and Family, and Berny Antouw and Kartini Londah for giving Buenetta all that she wanted to fulfil in her life from a family.

Thank you also to the First Indonesia Seventh Day Adventist Church for welcoming Buenetta into your family where she was able to be present week after week singing, praising, laughing, praying, and fellowshipping.

Buenetta, I know now you hold a steady brush in front of an easel with a blank canvas, trying to figure out how to capture the beauty of heaven, but it is so captivating that the only thing you can do is shout in praise and thank God, that you have made it over.

The sun of her soul has faded, she has lifted to the sky, she is keeping watch over us, while she relaxes way up high. I am glad she is not suffering, peace has finally found her, but even though she is in a better place that does not mean we will not miss her. I know we will see her again, just you wait and see, all of us together Buenetta, Jesus, and me!

-Carmen Matthews, CLA Program Manager