Emil Anthony Somersall, II

To view the service via YouTube please use the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTSFTjNN1l4 To view the service via Facebook please use the link below: https://www.facebook.com/ZandersFuneralLIVE/ Emil Anthony Somersall, II started his journey on July 16, 1990 in Frankfurt, Germany with his parents Emil and Lorette. On the first day of his life, he was transferred to Mannheim Kinder Clinic in Germany where he was placed on an ECKMO machine which took the place of his lungs so they could heal. He spent the next few months in the hospital and came home to his parents Emil and Lorette in October. The Drake family assisted Lorette after Emil came home and was a great help when his father was deployed to the Gulf War. They have remained in contact since that time. He moved to Arizona (Sierra Vista and Ft. Huanchuca) in 1991 and became big brother to his little sister, Tekeya on August 4, 1992. Since that time, they have been very close and were often asked if they were twins. He was able to spend time with his older cousins, Chris and Jason as their dad was stationed on the same base. He met Regina Oliver who became a second mom while in Arizona. Emil moved to Oklahoma (Lawton and Fort Sill) in 1994 and started school at Bishop Elementary. He played soccer, T-ball, and basketball on his school’s team. He joined the Cub Scouts also while in Oklahoma. In 1994, he moved from Oklahoma to Georgia (Augusta and Ft. Gordon) in 1998. There, he attended Willis Forman and Jamestown Elementary, and Glenn Hills Middle School. He continued playing soccer, baseball, and basketball in Richmond County. Emil was an above average goalie and started on the County All Star Team. The team made it to the championship game and forfeited the game when the coach and four players did not show up. His team played the game for the bene fit of the parents and players that were present and won with him not giving up a goal. The family moved to Fort Hood, Texas in 2004, where he attended Robert M. Shoemaker High School. He played soccer for two years as the starting goalie and joined the marching band where he was in the percussion section. He played in the pit the first year and was a leader in the pit his second year. He played the bass drum his final two years on the drumline and was the captain during his senior year. It was during this time, when he met Francis Maxwell and developed a lifelong friendship with him. Ironically, when their parents met at a band event, a past connection was discovered. Emil’s dad graduated with Francis’ uncle and Emil’s aunt had graduated with Francis’ mom in St. Thomas. Emil also met his future wife, Erica while living in Texas. In 2008, he graduated from high school and attended college at Central Texas College. He worked at Pizza Hut and Buffalo Wild Wings while in high school and college and started developing his love for cooking. In 2010, Emil moved to Apopka, Florida and continued developing his cooking skills at Buffalo Wild Wings, where he became a trainer. He moved to Beef ‘O’ Brady’s where he met the owner, Ed, and worked at his sister restaurant, Backroom Steak House and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Mt. Dora. Emil’s dream was to open his own restaurant, so he began to take orders for meals on some Sundays. Emil began a long-distance relationship with Erica. Soon she relocated to Florida where their relationship grew. They were married on October 11, 2019, and remained together until his passing. Emil was upbeat and brought joy to everyone he was around. His infectious smile will always be remembered. He was caring and would always be there for family and friends to help and share words of encouragement. As a child, he was always told by his father that he was “the man of the house” when he would leave home for deployments, restricted hours, training, or school. He never disappointed his father. He took special care of the primary ladies in his life, his mother, sister, and wife. He was a provider, partner, friend, and pillar for his entire family. On Thursday, October 26, 2023, Emil came by his parents home after work to check on his mother and help get her in bed as she had recently returned home on October 21, 2023, after spending time in the hospital. He wasn’t feeling well, so his visit was short. He went home and after getting a shower, went to the hospital. He initially was placed in the ICU and was doing well and placed on PCU status with the staff saying he would be home in a couple of days on Saturday. On Monday, he said he wasn’t feeling well, so they ran tests and placed him back in ICU status. His journey ended on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. The Lord decided it was his time to be taken so he would have no more suffering. We were grateful to have him for an amazing 33 years. He started his life fighting and was told he wouldn’t make it, but he beat all odds. He will be greatly missed, and we will cherish the memories until we are together again. “May his soul rest in peace. Emil was preceded in death by his Paternal Grandmother, Idilie “Tiny” Somersall; Maternal Grandmother, Dorothy Brandy; Maternal Grandfather, James Huggings, and Uncle, Eugene C. Somersall. He leaves to cherish his memory… his Wife, Erica Burnett; Loving Parents: Emil A. Somersall and Lorette U. Huggins-Somersall; Sister, Tekeya Somersall; Grandfather, Eugene Somersall, Sr.; Father-in-law, Arron Burnett; Mother-inlaw, Tanya Johnson; Uncles: Eugene A. “Butch” Somersall, Jr., Eric “Greg” Somersall, Seon “Andy” Somersall, Edward “Eddie” Somersall, Irette Huggins, and Keithley “Kirby” Huggins; Aunts: Ester Dixon, Charlene Sweeney, Eugenia A. “Judy” Somersall-Cruse, Elizabeth A. “Betty” Somersall, and Simone “Nikki” Somersall-Island; God Parents: Raphael Edwards, Glendon Diaz, Claudette Charleswell, and Sandra Joseph-Smith; Other In-Laws: Lorena Burnett, Dervon Burnett, Sr., Dervon “DJ” Burnett, Jr., Chain “Nini” Burnett, Donald “Buba” Hodge, II, Ciara “Cece” Ammons, LaTwon “Twon” Everagh, Antonia “AJ” Johnson, and Ariyah “Ary” Johnson; Special Parents: Regina and Antonio “Tony” Purnell; Cousins: Kareem Huggins, Raheem Huggins, Naseem Huggins, Kadejah Huggins-Saunders, Christopher Dixon, Jason Dixon, LaVonna “Sunshyne” Taylor, Elysha Smith-Louison, Kemoy Smith, Aisha Somersall, Niesha Somersall, Edward Sello, Eugene Sello, Mpho Sello, Peter Cruse, D’Andre Somersall, D’Sean Somersall, Deanna Somersall, Elissa Somersall, Jeniqua Chiddick, Jerome James-Somersall, Jaliyah Herbert, Jayseon Pratt, Miriam Somersall, Daniel Somersall, and Seanna Somersall; Special Friends: Francis Maxwell, Jr., Romeirre “Ro” Hope, Joshua Barnes, and Gregory “Greg” Kendricks; and a host of other loving relatives, colleagues and friends.

Tributes

Emil Anthony Somersall, II

July 16, 1990 - October 31, 2023