My journey with Naima started in the begining of her life. Little baby Ni..the little one..my little sister even if not by blood.. thats what she was to me ..family.. So many years together my mind keeps spinning thinking of every moment we spent. We grew up dancing and singing in the mirror ..we knew we were stars ! We were so close ..our dreams were the same...we strived together and loved each other even when we disagreed. Issa me and Ni had so many adventures, took trips, had years of sleep overs, birthday parties, holidays, we then started "mookie" Me Jeneba & Ni was like the Charlie's Angels ..tight..had each others back in any situation..shows, dinners, phone calls for hours, my best friend, my buddy, my sister, through good and bad, my heart, my responsibilty, my family forever, my angel .........







Your Presence



I carry your presence in my heart

It's nothing anyone can see

It's just a forever feeling

That lives in the heart of me.



I feel your friendly presence

From time to time it comes

Perhaps as a fleeting smile

Or in the beauty of a setting sun.



The way you touch me over time

Is a pleasure I can't deny

And your friendship that lives within

Will be with me till the day I die.



~© Mary West June 2000~

I remeber a few years ago Naima and I went to NJ for a few days to my moms beach house. We had lots of fun going to the beach and going on rides all day. one day we came back to the house after being out all day and turned on the TV to MTV. We couldnt believe waht we were seeing going across the bottom of the screen. "Aalyah Dead". It was crazy ..we reallyu couldnt believe it and I even called back to the city to see if it was real. We were so upset we went and sat on the beach and cried. When we got back to the city we even attended the memorial in Times Square. I just remember me and Ni crying on that beach for this singer ..this soul who we loved and they were real tears ..

Jen Holland

Oh man, Jen. I remember the last time I spoke with her. It was at 169 Bar. I think it was back in March 2005, and she was drinking a Cosmo, talking shit with me. I remember she made you take a sip, ha! She raved about them. Just recently you told me that she was a singer. I had no idea, and now I feel so funny about it. I wish I had heard her.

Megan Black

I have so many stories about Naima Purdue. I met her through my former best friend Natalia Wilson, who attended LaGuardia in or should I say barely attended, hence I came in as a Sophomore and knew that I had met a couple of girls prior to attending. My first week there I ran into Naima in the halls and she embraced me like a sister. That began a friendship that taught me about friendship. We shared secrets, food, clothes, non stop laughs, music, and it didnt stop. Our crew consisted of me, Naima, Roxzana Kelly, Laura Johnson, Tsidi Ibrahim, Jada Kelly, Natasha White, and Tressider Gillette.

We would meet on the 3rd Floor for lunch to nosh, talk ish and be in our own little world for awhile, away from the social ills of LaGuardia. Then we discovered the wonderful world of spades and it was a Reynolds. We devoted entire afternoons to forming alliances to demolish the opposition. Naima and I were very successful on the table and were hated for our spades prowess!! With the exception of Jazz Studies with the great tuba player Bob Stewart, we skipped all the other classes because of our addiction to cards. 

I remember being on stage singing in the Senior Chorus at our graduation and not knowing one word because I missed so much class. That class was the pits!!! We laughed the whole time on stage making up words and trying to keep up with the chorus!!! I remember my 17th birthday, junior year; she gave me what she called a &gourmet turkey sandwich with Dijon mustard, crisp iceberg lettuce and the finest tomatoes! She actually wrote this on the paper bag!! We would go to Soul Kitchen and drink like fish, eating the chicken wings provided and throwing the bones under the tables, straight ghetto!!!!

Though our crew dismantled mid - senior year, I will never forget Ms. Purdue. She was the songstress and just a genuinely good person. I want to take this time to send my regards to her entire family and loved ones. I also want to acknowledge all of the people I met through Naima, such as Jeniba and Blanca Martinez. Those girls were the truth!!!

Peace and Love 9E,

Tanisha Janine Malcom
PS Jen, this site is fantastic! All the best!
Tanisha J. Malcom