By Patrick Robinson

Let me tell you a brief story about a lovely human. I was contacted by Bonnie Brown a few weeks ago about her daughter, Heidi Williams. She told me Heidi was very ill but they were hoping I would have the time to take some photos of her. Bonnie told me she did not have long to live. She offered to pay me.. “No.. that is not necessary,” I told her. So my wife and I went to see her in her apartment in Burien. A friend answered the door and we entered. I expected to see someone who looked terrible.

Instead Heidi was radiant.

Exceptionally pretty with beautiful eyes and long black hair. I could see her energy was low... but still she had an aura of acceptance, peace, and love about her.

"I'm sorry about my place," she said," I've sold or given away most of my things." But it didn't matter. She was the jewel.

Her friends had done a magnificent job on her hair and make up, chosen her jewelry and were there to help. We had bought a bright bouquet of flowers to add to the photo scene.

She had to use a walker to move around but still, she carried herself with elegance. I got to work, taking portraits of her, both of us knowing they would be the last ones.

At times, I confess I had to choke back tears (as I am doing right now)…and try to keep the mood light and cheerful. My wife Kim did the same, holding the reflector and making sure Heidi's hair looked good.

She sat outside on her small balcony where the light was better and I took the photos, trying very hard to capture her essence.

I did my best, and gave them all a hug at the end. I sent her the photos in email. She was wonderful.. extremely grateful.. .and told me I was a magician with a camera. High praise.. I won't forget her words.

I made some prints and dropped them off three days ago. Then her mother sent me a text this morning. "Heidi passed at 3am this morning."

Goodbye Heidi. God bless.

It was an honor to meet you and preserve your beauty for all time.

Note: After I wrote this I posted it on Facebook… and more than 900 people responded so it became apparent that I needed to say just a little more about her. Her mother Bonnie told me, “April 12, 1975  was her day of glory in Denver Colorado.  She has an older brother. Derreck Williams, of Seattle.  A younger sister, Jamie Lindsey of Eatonville. She was a wild child.  But compassionate and loving.  Her hair was her most prized possession.  She worked at Roxbury Lanes and Casino for years as a dealer and floor person.”

I went to Roxy’s Casino and spoke to her boss and co-workers.  Heidi worked there for more than 13 years until she was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. Her friend and co-worker Sondra said “She was always there to lift me up whenever I was having a hard time. I was trying to conceive. She loved my child from the day she was born.”

Her boss GM Shari Lyons said, “She was never angry. Right up to the end. She never got angry about it being her turn. It was difficult for her I know but she kept it very private. She knew a lot of people and would get off work and come in the bar and sit with anyone. She had a couple of sayings when people would come in it was ‘Howdy partner!’ and when they left would say, “Thanks for choosing Roxy’s!” Sherry said that Heidi’s wish to keep her illness private was an act of kindness. “She tried to shelter her friends from it.”