Celeste Perez

Waynesville, Celeste Perez, age 17, of Jerry McElroy Drive, passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2015. A native of Lee County, Florida, her parents were Sharon and Troy Griffis and her father, Alvarez Perez. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Edward Smith. Celeste was a 10th grade student at Tuscola High School and had just started CNA classes at Haywood Community College with aspirations of one day working at Duke Hospital. Celeste was a beautiful girl both inside and out. She had a tremendous love for her church, Lake Junaluska First Baptist, and was very active in their student youth ministry, Surge. Celeste unconditionally loved animals, cats in particular, and enjoyed all kinds of music, but her passion in life resided with her family and friends. In addition to her parents, Celeste is survived by step-sister, Trissa Sedgley; step-brother, Justin Griffis; maternal grandmother, Sharon Risseeuw and step-grandfather, Donald Risseeuw, of Springhill, Florida; step-grandparents, Steve and Vickie Crews of Whittier; uncles, Eddie Smith (Amy) of Cape Coral, Florida and Dennis Smith (Trish) of Waynesville; and numerous loving friends. A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at Lake Junaluska First Baptist Church with Reverend Jimmy Huey and Reverend Caleb Burchfield officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to SARGE'S Animal Rescue Foundation, P.O. Box 854, Waynesville, NC 28786 and S.T.A.R for Neglected Horses, 970 Rabbit Skin Road, Waynesville, NC 28785.

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