Shantel McCoy, 32-years old died Sunday, January 08, 2012 in a fire at a Lake Shore Drive high-rise.
Shantel was from Philadelphia but came to Chicago in March to pursue her career in marketing. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and master's degree from the University of Phoenix. She was employed by Wirtz Beverage Group.
She is survived by her mother, JoAnn McCoy and her father, Ronald Brinkley.
**************************************
SHANTEL M. McCOY packed an abundance of accomplishment and adventure into her 32 years.
But as an intelligent, ambitious and attractive young woman, she still had a long way to go.
Or so it should have been.
Shantel's episodic life ended tragically Sunday when she died in an apartment fire in Chicago, where she had gone in March in search of more adventure.
The Philadelphia woman, who had traveled the world, was a church and community leader in Philadelphia, where her compassionate need to help others was expressed in many activities.
But when she lost a job with a Philadelphia accounting firm, she decided to find another city and another life.
"She was just ready to relocate to a new city," said her mother, JoAnn McCoy. "She just picked Chicago to move to. She loved the city, and of the several cities she was looking to relocate to, she picked Chicago."
She died in a tragedy that never should have happened.
She was returning to her apartment on the 12th floor of a 21-story building on Lake Shore Drive with an order of takeout food.
She took the elevator to her floor, unaware that a fire had been raging in one of the units near hers and the occupants had fled, leaving their door open.
Heat and fumes poured out of the apartment and filled the hallway. When Shantel tried to exit the elevator, she was thrown back by the blast. She was found in the elevator by firefighters and was dead when taken to a hospital.
Fire officials said that elevators in most buildings stop working during a fire, but not in this one. The door to the burning apartment should not have been open and should have closed automatically, fire investigators said.
The fire is under investigation.
Shantel McCoy enjoyed the thrills of life, her family said - "the highest rollercoasters, skydiving and a desire to bungee-jump."
"She was lovable, with an awesome personality and positive perception. She was an inspirational, ambitious and family-oriented person."
Shantel had participated in a student-exchange program that took her to Japan, China, Malaysia, India, South Africa and countries in South America, where she stayed with families. She traveled mostly by sea.
For her 30th birthday, she treated herself to a trip to Switzerland. She also made three trips to the Bahamas.
Shantel's desire to help others led her to New Orleans, where she worked with victims of Hurricane Katrina.
She participated in the AIDS Walks and, in the summer of 1996, was active in the Special Olympics and the Health Fair for Cancer Awareness.
In her youth, Shantel was a member of Zoar United Methodist Church, and she couldn't seem to do enough for the church.
She was on the Youth Usher Board and sang in the Youth Choir. She also was activities coordinator and worship leader, and performed in plays.
Shantel enjoyed attending Philadanco and the Freedom Theater, where she learned ballet and modern dance.
She was also a member of Triumph Baptist Church, where she was involved in the Praise Dance Ministry.
Born in Philadelphia, Shantel graduated from Masterman High School with a 98.7 grade-point average in 1997 and played volleyball.
While in high school, she was a member of the Gospel Choir and the Philadelphia All-City Choir.
She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a degree in business administration in 2001, and also excelled at volleyball.
She received an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix in 2008.
Shantel and her mother were very close. Her mother said that they talked on the phone three or four times a week.
Her mother recently sent her photos of herself from her cellphone, to which Shantel replied, "Mom, you love posing for the camera."
Besides her mother, she is survived by her father, Ronald Brinkley; her grandmother, Anna McCoy; two brothers, Kelvin McCoy and Rasheed Brinkley; and a sister, Rhonda Brinkley.
Services: 11 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 19) at Triumph Baptist Church, 1648 Hunting Park Ave. Friends may call at 9 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in White Chapel Cemetery, Feasterville.
Published: Philadelphia Daily News
Friday, Jan. 13, 2012
Shantel was from Philadelphia but came to Chicago in March to pursue her career in marketing. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and master's degree from the University of Phoenix. She was employed by Wirtz Beverage Group.
She is survived by her mother, JoAnn McCoy and her father, Ronald Brinkley.
**************************************
SHANTEL M. McCOY packed an abundance of accomplishment and adventure into her 32 years.
But as an intelligent, ambitious and attractive young woman, she still had a long way to go.
Or so it should have been.
Shantel's episodic life ended tragically Sunday when she died in an apartment fire in Chicago, where she had gone in March in search of more adventure.
The Philadelphia woman, who had traveled the world, was a church and community leader in Philadelphia, where her compassionate need to help others was expressed in many activities.
But when she lost a job with a Philadelphia accounting firm, she decided to find another city and another life.
"She was just ready to relocate to a new city," said her mother, JoAnn McCoy. "She just picked Chicago to move to. She loved the city, and of the several cities she was looking to relocate to, she picked Chicago."
She died in a tragedy that never should have happened.
She was returning to her apartment on the 12th floor of a 21-story building on Lake Shore Drive with an order of takeout food.
She took the elevator to her floor, unaware that a fire had been raging in one of the units near hers and the occupants had fled, leaving their door open.
Heat and fumes poured out of the apartment and filled the hallway. When Shantel tried to exit the elevator, she was thrown back by the blast. She was found in the elevator by firefighters and was dead when taken to a hospital.
Fire officials said that elevators in most buildings stop working during a fire, but not in this one. The door to the burning apartment should not have been open and should have closed automatically, fire investigators said.
The fire is under investigation.
Shantel McCoy enjoyed the thrills of life, her family said - "the highest rollercoasters, skydiving and a desire to bungee-jump."
"She was lovable, with an awesome personality and positive perception. She was an inspirational, ambitious and family-oriented person."
Shantel had participated in a student-exchange program that took her to Japan, China, Malaysia, India, South Africa and countries in South America, where she stayed with families. She traveled mostly by sea.
For her 30th birthday, she treated herself to a trip to Switzerland. She also made three trips to the Bahamas.
Shantel's desire to help others led her to New Orleans, where she worked with victims of Hurricane Katrina.
She participated in the AIDS Walks and, in the summer of 1996, was active in the Special Olympics and the Health Fair for Cancer Awareness.
In her youth, Shantel was a member of Zoar United Methodist Church, and she couldn't seem to do enough for the church.
She was on the Youth Usher Board and sang in the Youth Choir. She also was activities coordinator and worship leader, and performed in plays.
Shantel enjoyed attending Philadanco and the Freedom Theater, where she learned ballet and modern dance.
She was also a member of Triumph Baptist Church, where she was involved in the Praise Dance Ministry.
Born in Philadelphia, Shantel graduated from Masterman High School with a 98.7 grade-point average in 1997 and played volleyball.
While in high school, she was a member of the Gospel Choir and the Philadelphia All-City Choir.
She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a degree in business administration in 2001, and also excelled at volleyball.
She received an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix in 2008.
Shantel and her mother were very close. Her mother said that they talked on the phone three or four times a week.
Her mother recently sent her photos of herself from her cellphone, to which Shantel replied, "Mom, you love posing for the camera."
Besides her mother, she is survived by her father, Ronald Brinkley; her grandmother, Anna McCoy; two brothers, Kelvin McCoy and Rasheed Brinkley; and a sister, Rhonda Brinkley.
Services: 11 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 19) at Triumph Baptist Church, 1648 Hunting Park Ave. Friends may call at 9 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in White Chapel Cemetery, Feasterville.
Published: Philadelphia Daily News
Friday, Jan. 13, 2012
Shantel McCoy, 32-years old died Sunday, January 08, 2012 in a fire at a Lake Shore Drive high-rise.
Shantel was from Philadelphia but came to Chicago in March to pursue her career in marketing. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and master's degree from the University of Phoenix. She was employed by Wirtz Beverage Group.
She is survived by her mother, JoAnn McCoy and her father, Ronald Brinkley.
**************************************
SHANTEL M. McCOY packed an abundance of accomplishment and adventure into her 32 years.
But as an intelligent, ambitious and attractive young woman, she still had a long way to go.
Or so it should have been.
Shantel's episodic life ended tragically Sunday when she died in an apartment fire in Chicago, where she had gone in March in search of more adventure.
The Philadelphia woman, who had traveled the world, was a church and community leader in Philadelphia, where her compassionate need to help others was expressed in many activities.
But when she lost a job with a Philadelphia accounting firm, she decided to find another city and another life.
"She was just ready to relocate to a new city," said her mother, JoAnn McCoy. "She just picked Chicago to move to. She loved the city, and of the several cities she was looking to relocate to, she picked Chicago."
She died in a tragedy that never should have happened.
She was returning to her apartment on the 12th floor of a 21-story building on Lake Shore Drive with an order of takeout food.
She took the elevator to her floor, unaware that a fire had been raging in one of the units near hers and the occupants had fled, leaving their door open.
Heat and fumes poured out of the apartment and filled the hallway. When Shantel tried to exit the elevator, she was thrown back by the blast. She was found in the elevator by firefighters and was dead when taken to a hospital.
Fire officials said that elevators in most buildings stop working during a fire, but not in this one. The door to the burning apartment should not have been open and should have closed automatically, fire investigators said.
The fire is under investigation.
Shantel McCoy enjoyed the thrills of life, her family said - "the highest rollercoasters, skydiving and a desire to bungee-jump."
"She was lovable, with an awesome personality and positive perception. She was an inspirational, ambitious and family-oriented person."
Shantel had participated in a student-exchange program that took her to Japan, China, Malaysia, India, South Africa and countries in South America, where she stayed with families. She traveled mostly by sea.
For her 30th birthday, she treated herself to a trip to Switzerland. She also made three trips to the Bahamas.
Shantel's desire to help others led her to New Orleans, where she worked with victims of Hurricane Katrina.
She participated in the AIDS Walks and, in the summer of 1996, was active in the Special Olympics and the Health Fair for Cancer Awareness.
In her youth, Shantel was a member of Zoar United Methodist Church, and she couldn't seem to do enough for the church.
She was on the Youth Usher Board and sang in the Youth Choir. She also was activities coordinator and worship leader, and performed in plays.
Shantel enjoyed attending Philadanco and the Freedom Theater, where she learned ballet and modern dance.
She was also a member of Triumph Baptist Church, where she was involved in the Praise Dance Ministry.
Born in Philadelphia, Shantel graduated from Masterman High School with a 98.7 grade-point average in 1997 and played volleyball.
While in high school, she was a member of the Gospel Choir and the Philadelphia All-City Choir.
She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a degree in business administration in 2001, and also excelled at volleyball.
She received an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix in 2008.
Shantel and her mother were very close. Her mother said that they talked on the phone three or four times a week.
Her mother recently sent her photos of herself from her cellphone, to which Shantel replied, "Mom, you love posing for the camera."
Besides her mother, she is survived by her father, Ronald Brinkley; her grandmother, Anna McCoy; two brothers, Kelvin McCoy and Rasheed Brinkley; and a sister, Rhonda Brinkley.
Services: 11 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 19) at Triumph Baptist Church, 1648 Hunting Park Ave. Friends may call at 9 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in White Chapel Cemetery, Feasterville.
Published: Philadelphia Daily News
Friday, Jan. 13, 2012
Shantel was from Philadelphia but came to Chicago in March to pursue her career in marketing. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and master's degree from the University of Phoenix. She was employed by Wirtz Beverage Group.
She is survived by her mother, JoAnn McCoy and her father, Ronald Brinkley.
**************************************
SHANTEL M. McCOY packed an abundance of accomplishment and adventure into her 32 years.
But as an intelligent, ambitious and attractive young woman, she still had a long way to go.
Or so it should have been.
Shantel's episodic life ended tragically Sunday when she died in an apartment fire in Chicago, where she had gone in March in search of more adventure.
The Philadelphia woman, who had traveled the world, was a church and community leader in Philadelphia, where her compassionate need to help others was expressed in many activities.
But when she lost a job with a Philadelphia accounting firm, she decided to find another city and another life.
"She was just ready to relocate to a new city," said her mother, JoAnn McCoy. "She just picked Chicago to move to. She loved the city, and of the several cities she was looking to relocate to, she picked Chicago."
She died in a tragedy that never should have happened.
She was returning to her apartment on the 12th floor of a 21-story building on Lake Shore Drive with an order of takeout food.
She took the elevator to her floor, unaware that a fire had been raging in one of the units near hers and the occupants had fled, leaving their door open.
Heat and fumes poured out of the apartment and filled the hallway. When Shantel tried to exit the elevator, she was thrown back by the blast. She was found in the elevator by firefighters and was dead when taken to a hospital.
Fire officials said that elevators in most buildings stop working during a fire, but not in this one. The door to the burning apartment should not have been open and should have closed automatically, fire investigators said.
The fire is under investigation.
Shantel McCoy enjoyed the thrills of life, her family said - "the highest rollercoasters, skydiving and a desire to bungee-jump."
"She was lovable, with an awesome personality and positive perception. She was an inspirational, ambitious and family-oriented person."
Shantel had participated in a student-exchange program that took her to Japan, China, Malaysia, India, South Africa and countries in South America, where she stayed with families. She traveled mostly by sea.
For her 30th birthday, she treated herself to a trip to Switzerland. She also made three trips to the Bahamas.
Shantel's desire to help others led her to New Orleans, where she worked with victims of Hurricane Katrina.
She participated in the AIDS Walks and, in the summer of 1996, was active in the Special Olympics and the Health Fair for Cancer Awareness.
In her youth, Shantel was a member of Zoar United Methodist Church, and she couldn't seem to do enough for the church.
She was on the Youth Usher Board and sang in the Youth Choir. She also was activities coordinator and worship leader, and performed in plays.
Shantel enjoyed attending Philadanco and the Freedom Theater, where she learned ballet and modern dance.
She was also a member of Triumph Baptist Church, where she was involved in the Praise Dance Ministry.
Born in Philadelphia, Shantel graduated from Masterman High School with a 98.7 grade-point average in 1997 and played volleyball.
While in high school, she was a member of the Gospel Choir and the Philadelphia All-City Choir.
She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a degree in business administration in 2001, and also excelled at volleyball.
She received an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix in 2008.
Shantel and her mother were very close. Her mother said that they talked on the phone three or four times a week.
Her mother recently sent her photos of herself from her cellphone, to which Shantel replied, "Mom, you love posing for the camera."
Besides her mother, she is survived by her father, Ronald Brinkley; her grandmother, Anna McCoy; two brothers, Kelvin McCoy and Rasheed Brinkley; and a sister, Rhonda Brinkley.
Services: 11 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 19) at Triumph Baptist Church, 1648 Hunting Park Ave. Friends may call at 9 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in White Chapel Cemetery, Feasterville.
Published: Philadelphia Daily News
Friday, Jan. 13, 2012
