Tell Us About Her

I'm Ezra, Vendredi's boyfriend of four years. I loved her so much.

Vendredi was a walking ray of sunshine to everybody she knew, especially including me. Every single minute I knew her, she was making somebody smile — from silly antics, teasing her friends or siblings, to just being there for her friends and family. I knew her more than most people, and I got to see the sides of her that I loved so much.

Ever since I met her at Cane Bay High School with her friends, we immediately clicked and became best of friends. She virtually changed who I was as a person, turning me from a social outcast that barely spoke to people to somebody just like her — happy and willing to make friends. Knowing she suffered through similar mental struggles as me was also a key contributor to our friendship.

Through the five years I knew her and four years that we were together, we've shared so many memories — from the candy cane sharpening on the school bus before Winter break, to doing my makeup for the first time and painting my lips black, to the inside jokes about anything being biscuits. She just made everyone's life a little happier.

The day I found out, it felt like everything was ripped away from me. It's painful not having a good morning text to wake up to, or not having someone to talk to.

Knowing the struggles that I helped her with for so long were unfortunately the struggles that took her life, I wish nobody has to go through these same struggles — including the parents of those children.

I loved her so much. She loved me. And everybody she knew loved her, including her friends and family. Gone too soon, she'll be missed every passing minute of my life, and every minute of everybody else's.

The world feels colder without the ray of sunshine that is Vendredi Godfrey.

I'm Stacie, Vendredi's manager at Build-A-Bear. I just wanted to personally say I'm so, so sorry. I appreciate you telling your truth because this issue should be talked about more.

I do not know if Vendredi knew this — though I know she knows now — but I have struggled in the past with mental health, and I am on medicine for the rest of my life to control it. I have attempted before, more than once, and been hospitalized. I used to self-harm when I was young.

I felt something was off with her. I would ask her if she was okay. She would say she was. My gut was saying no. I just wish I could have hugged her one last time, and it really hurts a lot.

I also lost my father to suicide. And the grandpa I never met — my dad's dad — was the same. They were both 57 when it happened. I was 27.

I can tell you without a doubt this loss is more painful because Venus was still a child to me. Everyone who works for me is younger than my own grown children. So they are like my kids too. I told her I was proud of her. I told her I loved her. Now she knows just how much.

This is the rainbow she and God showed me. And I do not care what anyone says — that baby girl is in the arms of God. I felt God's hand and her spirit that Thursday when I asked for the rainbow.

I met Vendredi through [name removed]. I had heard about her years before I became friends with her, but when I finally talked to Vendredi directly, she was exactly as kind and sweet as they had made her out to be. I had talked to her hours before she passed away; she had vented to me about what was going on in her life.

I feel a little guilty because I was awake and I feel like had I known she was planning on taking her life I could have done more to help convince her not to. I've never lost anyone close to me before this — it's a really strange feeling and I still hope that all of this is just a bad dream that I will wake up from. I have had my own struggles with suicide before, and I'm so, so grateful for Vendredi and the other people who have helped me and comforted me during those times when I was close to the edge. It is super important to me that people take mental health seriously to help prevent tragedies like this.

And while I know Vendredi is in a better place now, I miss her dearly and I wish that I had gotten more time to know her. My condolences go out to her family and everyone close to her during this incredibly difficult time.

Leroy — I am at a loss; words cannot express how deeply saddened I am to hear about Vendredi.

I remember how hard you fought for her and how deeply you loved and cared for her. It was always clear how important she was to you. Even during the periods when you were kept at a distance, your love for her never wavered, and that stands out.

I took some time to look through the website you created. It is truly heartbreaking, but there is also a great deal of honesty and truth in what you shared. If it reaches even one person who is hurting and helps them feel less alone — or convinces one parent to change — that is a powerful and meaningful legacy for Vendredi. I am grateful you shared this with me. Please know you are in my thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.