Celebrating The Life of Terrance Michael Cain Location: Solar Studios – 3909 San Fernando Road, Suite 114 Glendale California 91204 Tahlib McMicheaux, Pastor
Order of Service Opening Remarks………………........................................................…Jacqueline Cain Musical Selection ……….....………..Native farewell song – “He Sapa Ki, Un Kita Pi” Reading of Obituary-…...............................................................………Denayja Reese Musical Selection …………......................................................................…..“You Say” Words of Celebration and Hope ...............................……..Pastor Tahlib McMicheaux Speaker ……..................................................................................…Helena Rodriguez Speaker ….........................................................................................……Jennifer Wade Speaker ….........................................................................................…….Lindsay Cain Photo slideshow ……………“Brotha” Speaker……..........................................................................................……. Brian Shih Speaker ….......................................................................................……… Ilona Haller Speaker ….......................................................................……….Amuche Chukudebelu Speaker …........................................................................….............……..Taiwan Tang Speaker …….................................................................….........…Nicole & Tehya Cain Speaker ….....................................................................................…….Jacqueline Cain Speaker.........................................................................................................Dante Cain Musical Selection .....................................................................................…“Lovesong” Closing Remarks ...........................................................................……Jacqueline Cain
In Loving Memory of Terrance Michael Cain With heavy hearts, we gather to honor the extraordinary life of Terrance Michael Cain, a remarkable individual who touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him. Born on a rainy March day in 1978 in Los Angeles, California, Terrance brought joy and light to his parents, Tyrone and Jeannette Cain. He grew up amidst the glamour of Hollywood, attending Grant Elementary before the family's move to Panorama City in the scenic San Fernando Valley in 1985. From there, Terrance embarked on an educational journey, attending Chase Street Elementary, Sepulveda Gifted Magnet Junior High, and James Monroe Law & Government Magnet High School. Terrance possessed a brilliant mind and an artistic spirit that enchanted those around him. His passion for drawing was evident from the very beginning, as he could always be found with a pencil and notebook in hand, tirelessly creating intricate masterpieces. Inspired by the remarkable artwork of his great uncle, Oscar Howe, Terrance channeled his talent into his own unique creations. In 2000, he established his clothing brand, Ndigenus, as a heartfelt tribute to his Native heritage. Through Ndigenus, Terrance showcased his elaborate designs, spreading representation and contributing to the Crow Creek Reservation, where he held a special place as a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in Fort Thompson, South Dakota. Although his work often kept him busy, Terrance never lost sight of what truly mattered to him. He cherished his visits to the Crow Creek Reservation, embracing the pow-wows and reconnecting with his cousins, aunts, and uncles. Terrance's heart longed for South Dakota and the beauty of the great outdoors, where he found solace and inspiration. However, his greatest joy came from being a devoted father to his four children, who were the lights of his life. Terrance's youthful spirit was evident in every moment spent with his children. Whether skateboarding, riding bikes or scooters, body-boarding at the beach, or mentoring his young sous chefs in the kitchen, he radiated love and laughter. His infectious enthusiasm could be heard echoing through the neighborhood, as he shared countless adventures and created lifelong memories. Terrance's dedication to his children was unwavering, and he took every opportunity to instill in them a love for learning, introducing them to new environments and experiences. While Terrance achieved numerous milestones in his corporate career, his true passion lay beyond the confines of his profession. The real magic unfolded when he could indulge in his favorite pastimes—surfing, hiking with friends, playing tennis, practicing meditation, or immersing himself in his art. His zest for life was contagious, as he encouraged those around him to embrace physical activity, seek knowledge through reading, and nurture meaningful connections by simply asking, "How was your day?" Family meant everything to Terrance, and in March 2022, he relocated to Groningen, the Netherlands, to be closer to his beloved children. His bond with them was unbreakable, and their happiness was his guiding light. It is with immeasurable sadness that we announce his passing on June 2, 2023, as Terrance embarked on his eternal journey home to the Lord. Terrance was an exceptional father, a loving son, a devoted brother, an entertaining uncle, a joyful cousin, and a reliable friend to many. His absence leaves an indescribable void in our lives, and we will forever cherish the memories we shared together. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and unwavering support that will continue to inspire us all. Terrance is preceded in death by his eldest brother Tyrone Cain, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Nicole, and their two daughters, Tehya and Onya, as well as their son, Nigetakiya. He also leaves behind his dearest friend, Ilona, and their youngest daughter, Lola. His passing is mourned deeply by his parents, Tyrone and Jeannette Cain, his sisters Marnice, Tyra, Jacqueline, Lindsay, Victoria, Marciana, and Helena, his brothers Dante, Sergio, and Isaiah, and his extended family at Columbia University. Terrance's memory will forever be cherished by his many aunts, uncles, countless cousins, numerous neighbors and friends. We gather today not to mourn the loss of Terrance Michael Cain, but to celebrate a life that shone so brightly, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts. As we say our final goodbyes, let us carry forward his spirit of love, adventure, and genuine care for those around us. May his soul find eternal peace, and may his memory forever inspire us to live life to the fullest, just as Terrance did. In our hearts, you will always remain. Rest in peace, dear Terrance.
Tributes Terrance, my dearest cousin, the loss of losing you is still very unreal to us relatives in South Dakota. Even though you grew up far away from me, I always felt so close and connected to you and your siblings. It was just your amazing soul that always felt like we just seen each other and no matter how long it’s been, we would pick right back up. We will all surely miss that feeling! It was always so exciting upon hearing you and the rest of the Cain Family would be visiting us. When you came you showed us all so much love and introduced us to so many different varieties of life that you got to experience that I will cherish forever! Thank you for carrying on Oscar Howe’s dream of art for Native Americans. It is through your beautiful artwork you will live on eternally. You did so much for the little community of Big Bend, and you will forever be my role model! We hope your children will get to visit us here in South Dakota someday, until we meet again fam, Doksa. We love you Terrance! Your loving cousins, Jodi Dunn, Aunt Eleanore & Family Writing this letter brings tears to my eyes, but I know if I didn’t do something, Terrance or T as I called him would be pissed with me so here it goes. Terrance was more than a friend to me; he was my brother. We met during our freshman year at Columbia because we lived in the same dorm. I was always impressed / scared of his knowledge (many times I was like, T I’m fine not knowing that lol) and just with the way he saw the world. My twin Nicole, Terrance, and I hit it off from the start. They were in the same writing class, but he received higher grades which according to Nicole was because he was more “minority”. After graduation we still kept in touch even when we had families and lived on different coasts. Somehow, we would always run into or find each other. Even though our encounters were random, they felt planned, and we spent hours together. We never skipped a beat and picked up right where we left off. Terrance openly showed his love and let it be known that you were important to him. I’ve had many long and deep-thinking conversations with him and in each one it never failed that 4 themes would be covered (family, tech, life, and art). I can still hear him saying yeah man or his giggle just thinking about those conversations now. I’m sure a lot of people have stories about him, but one of the funniest ones to me was when I last spoke to him which was a couple of months ago. He called just to chat, and I told him I had just come down with covid that same day. I thought he was going to hang up, but he spoke to me for like an hour. I barely spoke because I had a high fever, but at the end of the call he said, “that was a good conversation” and all I could do was laugh because he was serious. It was enough to just be on the phone listening to him to make him happy. Terrance was grateful to have a connection and just shoot the breeze with a friend. He appreciated people for who they were and loved having people in his life especially his family. Even though I haven’t met most of his siblings, I do know about you all through our conversations. I will always remember T fondly and will make sure my kids learn how to ride the skateboard he sent as a gift. Rest in Peace T. Love Nadia Terrance was a very creative soul who lived life on his terms. He was one of my most laid-back deep-thinking friends who always impressed me with his fearlessness. I miss him a lot, I hope he is at peace. Love you Terrance. – Nicole Terrence, What more is there to say about an exciting and awesome young nephew. When God allowed Terrence to be formed In Jeannette's (mother) womb with the aid of Tryone (father), he knew he would be special and what his predetermined path in life was going to be. God knew his thoughts before he arrived, He made it possible for him to become a son, brother, husband, father, nephew, cousin, friend, teacher, likable adversary, and colleague. He was given the opportunity to shape his heart, mind, body and soul. Terrence's challenges and obstacles were many during his short stay on earth. However, God always had his back. He picked up his burdens, never forsaking him, and gave Terrence the mantle to overcome whatever was in front of him. He was blessed with innate decisionmaking skills, intelligence, adaptability, perseverance, and talents to excel in school (primary, secondary, and Ivy League - Columbia University postsecondary education), business environment, debates, family life, health issues, and social interactions. Let us not overlook his passion for character, enormous love for family, trust, honesty, originality, thoughtfulness, and commitment to respecting others. I'm sure God's love was evident in everything he said and did. We must admit, Terrence experienced the richness of this life that was created by God. Gods' plan always supersedes ours. Therefore, by the grace of God, he decided to call him home. Let us not forget there is a treasure chest of Terrence memories for us to pick up and recollect the joy, love, style, personal exchanges, and excitement we experienced with him. He was incredibly quick on his feet. unique, full of zeal and yet the heart filled Terrence you knew. Love Always from Uncle Os, Aunt Ruby and Cousins, Tiffany and Corey.
Tributes Terrance, rest in power fam! Artistic genius, and a true underground hip hop head... His artistry was next level, and his love for hip hop culture was deep, so I’m gonna keep this dedication hip hop just how he liked it. Back in the day, I once traveled to NYC to host an MC battle event on the lower east side of Manhattan, and Terrance came through. This must have been ‘04. He came through and hooked me up with a bunch of dope custom tees that he had just designed and printed that day. They featured on the front, his original “Ndigenus” brand version of a logo that represented my crew, and the crew’s name was printed on the back also. He had a bag full of them, just surprised me with them and told me to throw them all out from the stage to people in the crowd. This event featured hip hop legends who were also present in the house that night (MC Supernatural, DJ Evil Dee, Sway of MTV, Self Scientific, Jeru the Damaja, and more), so I wanted to shed light on Terrance, to let everyone know who made the shirts... But he said “Nah, just give ‘em out.” He didn’t want the recognition, it was a real gift from the heart, and it added value to my event. During an intermission I got on stage and started to throw them out to the crowd, people jumped and snatched them out of the air. Terrance was smiling, he was so humble. Many years later, someone sent me a photo on Facebook that they took while they were at a hip hop festival that day. It was a photo of the back of some random person’s shirt who was standing in front of them as they were watching performances on stage. The shirt had my crew’s name printed on it, which is the reason why they sent it to me. I recognized it right away as one of those shirts that Terrance had gifted me to throw out to the crowd many years prior. :-) To his family, you gotta know he was a very talented artist and extremely intelligent academically. To his children, I hope you all grow up discovering things about him that continue to confirm this. Cherish his art, it is who he really was. His soul lives through his creations. Terrance, thanks for the friendship homie. One love, eternally. -Randall “SHUX” Murchison If words could describe the loss, we all feel, then the stars in the galaxy would fall back and yield. A beautiful son has returned to the Most High, as many shed tears and say their goodbye. The love of Terrance will last through the years, but our comfort comes from knowing that he sits with The Master and has conquered all his fears. Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” May the Most High give your family all needed grace and strength in this time of sorrow. If words could describe the loss, we all feel, then the stars in the galaxy would fall back and yield. A beautiful son has returned to the Most High, as many shed tears and say their goodbye. The love of Terrance will last through the years, but our comfort comes from knowing that he sits with The Master and has conquered all his fears. Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” May the Most High give your family all needed grace and strength in this time of sorrow. Love the Dawson Family Terrance, with his towering intellect and emotional depth, had a unique yet unifying influence on each of us, his friends. His radiant smile was a constant, a beacon that drew us into his world, despite the personal tempests he so valiantly navigated. His humor and insightful provocations were his gifts, lighting the path through riveting conversations that danced between laughter and profound thought. His spirit, a complex labyrinth of resilience and resolve, housed a tempest tempered by his indomitable will. Even when engulfed by his own storms, he served as a sanctuary for others, his radiant smile a beacon in the darkest of nights. With jests as his threads and intellectual provocations as his loom, he wove tapestries of thought and laughter, inviting all to partake in the feast of wisdom he generously served. A man of immense intellect and technical brilliance, his talents were as kaleidoscopic as his spirit. His unique style of drawing was an intimate language expressing the depths of his soul. He aspired to remove the masks the world wears, exposing the veiled identities we often hide. His vision, a unique blend of mirror and lens, offered a raw, unfiltered view of the world. At the core of Terrance's intricate existence were his children. His love for them was profound and unequivocal, grounding him amidst life's complexities. They were his stability, his motivation, his most profound source of happiness. His deep affection had an enduring impact on their lives, and in turn, their presence provided him with a strength that outlasted the challenges he faced. His empathetic spirit served as a guiding light amidst life's whirlwinds, his patience and understanding providing a sheltering harbor. His reassuring presence, his comforting echo, guided those around him towards their potential, always the lighthouse in stormy seas. His laughter, depth, resilience, and profound love have woven themselves into the fabric of my existence. His memory stands unweathered, a testament to love, laughter, wisdom, and the profound bond he had with his children. His light, though extinguished in this world, continues to illuminate our hearts. In honoring his beautifully complex life, we carry his legacy forward. The laughter is hushed, but the echo remains. I remember you not with sadness, but with the same fiery spirit you embraced life. T, you have left the race, but the tracks will linger on. -Chad Aston
Twenty-Third Psalm An Indigenous Version The GREAT FATHER above is a SHEPHERD CHIEF. I am His and with Him I want not. He throws out to me a rope and the name of the rope is love and He draws me to where the grass is green and the water is not dangerous, and I eat and lie down and am satisfied. Sometimes my heart is very weak and falls down but He lifts me up again and draws me into a good road. His name is WONDERFUL. Sometime, it may be very soon, it may be a long long time, He will draw me into a valley. It is dark there, but I'll be afraid not, for it is between those mountains that the SHEPHERD CHIEF will meet me and the hunger that I have in my heart all through life will be satisfied. Sometimes he makes the love rope into a whip, but afterwards He gives a staff to lean upon. He spreads a table before me with all kinds of foods. He put His hand upon my head and all the "tired" is gone. My cup he fills till it runs over. What I tell is true. I lie not. These roads that are "away ahead" will stay with me through this life and after; and afterwards I will go to live in the Big Teepee and sit down with the SHEPHERD CHIEF forever. Acknowledgements Thank you for your prayers, which have increased our faith. For your words which have encouraged our heart and your presence which has given us arms to lean on . We appreciate every thought, card, donation and meal you have sent our way. Because of your caring you have made our burden much lighter. Please continue to pray for us and may God’s Blessing forever shine on each of you. We love you all. With Sincere Appreciation