A number of Barry law students wish to know more about Birdsong’s daughter Krystal who passed away on September 20, 2008. Below is a link to the Barry University online story about Krystal containing her photograph:
https://bucwis.barry.edu/news/4442_3133393738.htm
It is with profound sadness that we notify the Barry community that we have lost one of our own. Krystal Birdsong, a May 2008 graduate from the College of Arts & Sciences, current graduate student in the School of Social Work, and daughter of Leonard Birdsong, Associate Professor at Barry’s Law School, passed away Friday, Sept. 19. She was 25 years old.
Krystal transferred into Barry in the spring of 2005 and made the dean’s list every semester that she studied here. Her most notable accomplishment in addition to her stellar academic achievements was her amazing record of community service at the university, local and national levels. One of her professors, in an award nomination, wrote: “Besides being an excellent student, Krystal was an active advocate for Barry’s mission of social justice during her time at the university. She led several worthwhile causes and always got faculty and students involved. She was the president of Pax Christi and a dynamic member of the South Florida Campus Action Network (CAN) – the first and only consortium of student activists in South Florida.”
As an activist, Krystal used her experiences and knowledge to teach other students about the need for social change, and how to achieve it. During the 2007-2008 academic year she organized a pro peace/anti-war rally and the first annual human rights fair. She also had articles published in the “Barry Buccaneer” and the “Miami Times” on issues concerning human trafficking, gentrification and other social justice causes. Krystal was the recipient of both the Student Affairs’ President’s Award and the School of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Award for 2007-2008.
A Memorial Mass and Celebration of Life service will be held for Krystal at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Orlando, Fla. The family encourages that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Barry University in Krystal’s memory.
On behalf of the Barry community, we offer our prayers and condolences to our colleague Leonard and Krystal’s entire family.
Dr. Michael Griffin
Vice President for Student Affairs
Dear Professor Birdsong
My sincerest condolences on your terrible loss.
So young – so sad.
Dear Professor Birdsong and Family,
My deepest sympathies during your time of loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
With sympathy,
Rebecca Morgan
Dear Professor Birdsong,
My thoughts and prayers go out to you on the loss of your daughter. I will pray for God’s grace and strength to guide you through this difficult time.
Katie Anderson
Barry Law – Class of 2003
Dear Professor Birdsong,
My thoughts are with you and your family during this time.
“There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.” “It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.”
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama