Mooka’s Memory Makes Graduation Bittersweet

She didn’t live to attend in person, but Camryn ​“Mooka” Gayle was there in spirit Friday to graduate along with her classmates from Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School.

Shirts, caps, pins, posters, jeans, and grad stoles with the face of Mooka — a popular dancer and cheerleader who died at 17 in a car crash — were on display at Friday’s commencement, held at the Shubert Theatre. Friends and classmates of Mooka said their graduation wouldn’t be complete if they didn’t bring the ​“life of the party.” 

One hundred twenty-two were handed off their diplomas from the school’s leaders of the creative writing, dance, band, choir, strings, theatre, and visual arts departments. A posthumous degree for Mooka was awarded to her mother, Elizabeth Robinson.

Robinson accepted the degree on stage amongst her daughters’ friends and classmates with a large framed poster of Mooka. 

Two close friends of Mooka — , Nyasia Davis, who has known Mooka since the eighth grade, and theater student Daniya Cox — said waking up and getting ready for their graduation day was tough. First they couldn’t believe they made it through four ​“impossible” years of high school. And second, they struggled to realize they weren’t going to be able to walk across the stage with Mooka. 

“I doubted myself and didn’t think I’d get to graduate,” said Davis. 

Davis said she lost her father and Mooka only months apart. Cox lost two other friends this year also. 

Dressed in jeans designed with the name of Mooka, caps decorated with her picture, a customized stole, and a poster of their friend, the ​“Mooka Gang” made sure they walked across the stage with her presence felt. 

During the start of the pandemic, when schools were closed down, Davis said, she began to give up because of the difficulty of learning from home. When she returned to school in-person for her senior year, she had plans to make it the best yet with her best friend Mooka. The duo were known for being inseparable. They hung out everyday. They did cheerleading (at HIllhouse) and dance. They were praise dancers together at their church. 

“We were unstoppable,” Davis said. ​“Now I have to do it for us both.” 

Mooka was killed in a one-car crash this past Nov. 30. Davis said her dance teacher Lindsey Bauer helped her through the grieving process. 

Cox said she lacked support, and grieved alone. 

Davis and Cox described Mooka as the life of the party. Had she been there Friday, they said, she would be yelling up and down the downtown streets.

Next year Cox plans to attend a nursing program with hopes of eventually becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Davis will attend Clark Atlanta University to major in biology with plans to become a obstetrics and gynecology physician (OBGYN).

Another a close friend of Mooka was Jaiden Shoulders. He said he too pushed through hard times of the past four years for his lost friends and family. 

While walking across the stage Friday, he thought back to the happy moments of the past four years, like hanging our with Mooka and performing for renowned gospel singer Kim Burrell. Jaiden will attend Western Connecticut State University beginning in the fall to study music production in the fall. 

He recalled being with Mooka hours before the fatal crash. 

“It hit me hard. but her spirit lives on. and I know she’s proud of us,” he said. 

Jaiden’s mother, Verlessie Shoulders, celebrated the bittersweet accomplishment of her only child Friday. She said she is grateful for the person he has become and hurdles he has overcome. 

Co-op dancer Autymn Brown, 18, described her high school career as metamorphic. She said she’s been molded by the loss of Mooka, her aunt, and cousin recently. She said she discovered newfound strength to push through nearly two years of remote learning.

She said she would often talk with Mooka about going to prom, graduation, and life after high school. ​“I’m trying to do my best for Mooka,” she said. 

Brown said she was able to get through the school year with the support of her two older brothers. She wore a cap Friday decorated with their faces. 

Brown hopes to be an actress on Broadway as well as a theater teacher for young people. 

The creativity, boldness, and innovation of the graduates were highlighted by keynote speaker Adriane Jefferson, city government’s cultural affairs director. She advised students to plan ahead, but not too much, and to ​“be who you actually are.” She described the graduates as ​“culture shifters.” 

The diversity and perseverance of the graduates make Co-op a ​“place of extraordinary things,” school Arts Director Amy Migliore said. 

Students walked the stage Friday with perseverance …

.. and some dance moves …

… and a final bow.