Obituary of Dezaray Pearl Fuller

At approximately 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7th, Dezaray Pearl Reed Fuller passed away peacefully at her home in North Charleston, SC. Born in Bellefontaine, OH on December 10, 1985, Dezaray was only 32 years old.

 

Dezaray leaves behind her two boys Abraham (3) and Kwame (14), as well as her husband Brandon Fuller.

 

Diagnosed with an anaplastic astrocytoma on her 21st birthday, Dezaray didn’t let her diagnoses stop her from living her life exactly the way she wanted. Her tumor would remain about the same size as it was when initially diagnosed until February of 2018, when an MRI showed a new area of growth towards the center of her brain.

 

Two weeks after the MRI, Dezaray underwent a full craniotomy resection at MUSC Hospital in downtown Charleston. About 80% of the new tumor was removed, and she started on a promising clinical trial treatment medicine shortly after. A biopsy of the tumor cells confirmed that she no longer had an anaplastic astrocytoma, Dezaray was now diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a more aggressive type of cancer.

 

The love she had for her two boys was plenty enough to keep her fighting until the very end.

 

A scholar, Dezaray graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in Zoology and Environmental Science. She’d later attend graduate school at Ohio State University and graduate with a Master’s Degree in Environment & Natural Resources.

 

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was a big part of her professional life, having worked there off and on in both a full-time and part-time capacity for eight years. Most of her work at the organization took place in the education department. Dezaray loved showing and teaching young children about different types of animals and telling them how they could help preserve their habitats.

 

Dezaray cared deeply about animals. During her lifetime, she rescued and rehabilitated many different furry and scaly creatures including a pigeon, lizard, snake and squirrel. She was just as comfortable holding a snake as she was petting a dog.

 

After Dezaray finished her undergraduate degree, she moved to Manteo, NC for the summer to be a kayak guide for a local company. Brandon and Dezaray met during that summer in 2008 and would date until marrying in Las Vegas, NV in the summer of 2014.

 

The two would soon become parents when Abraham Ty Fuller was born at the Outer Banks Hospital in December. Dezaray was an avid supporter of breastfeeding children and said that she gave Abraham “all of her best stuff.”

 

In 2016, Dezaray and Brandon decided to forego having additional biological children and instead choose to adopt a young boy from the South Carolina foster care system. After a series of training and interviews, the two were finally approved for adoption. It didn’t take long until they were introduced to Kwame, a very exceptional 13 year old young man who the couple adopted in December of 2017.

 

She left a lasting impression on many people during her three decades. A caring mother, daughter and best friend, Dezaray will always live on through her two boys and husband.

 

 

Visitation Saturday August 11, 2018 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Celebration of Life Saturday August 11, 2018 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation and Burial Chapel

7475 Peppermill Parkway

North Charleston, SC 29418

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