Dearly Beloved,

I can't believe this is the reason that I'm writing this entry. You were a part of my life before I fully understood or recognized who you even were. As a maybe 7 or 8 year old I would bop around the house and listen to 1999 because that's what was being played by my parents. Little did I know that in 84 when my mom took me to the movies to see Purple Rain my life would forever be changed along with who ruled the music world. To say that I fell in love with you was an understatement and also that's not to be misunderstood. Watching you gave me permission to continue to stand in my in my own light, in my own weirdness and learn how to own it. You became a mentor to me and you've never met me. During my bad times you ease my pain during my Happy Times your tunes make me laugh and smile as I bop around the house and on dance floors even till this day as a married woman I still Revel you in the same regard. It's always been so much more than the music for me. A true P-friend could easily listen to your music and understand that from the first song that they fell in love with there was more to you, that your music always had a message. I want to thank you for always loving God in the open. You always gave thanks to the one that gave you your gift. I want to thank you for believing in yourself enough to stand the fight and even when you risked losing everything you stood firm. That to me is the true definition of a hero. Stevie Wonder recently said if Michael Jackson was the King of Pop than you Prince ARE the emperor. Thank you 4 being a voice and been a mentor for so many who may not have come to their full potential without you. I wish you could be here to see the outpouring of love for you so that you could truly understand how much you were loved across the world. Prince, in my book you were the best to do it, the best that did it, & the best that will ever do it. Mr. Nelson, no one will ever compare to you; you are unparalleled. I think that you were put here to you bring people together through music, you gave them a pathway to God, you brought us peace through music. Even though it's very hard understand that your journey has completed, I want you to know that you will never be forgotten. You were in this world, but you were not of this world and your mark, your imprint, your carbon footprint will remain untouchable.
By your own words anything that is beautiful is worth getting hurt over... we are in a world of hurt right now. However, through your music we will heal and eventually the disorder will cease as we "evolve into the light". You were never Rock and Roll, Pop, R&B, funk, jazz, the living legend...to me...you were simply Prince.
The world is so lonely without U here. I wish U peace, love, & heaven. LuvU4Life
Forever a friend,
Roland K. Jones
Ft. Stewart, GA