Taeler Joy Bennett Death: This morning, our hearts are heavy with grief, our spirits stilled by sorrow. Taeler Joy Bennett, a radiant soul, a beautiful woman inside and out, has completed her earthly journey and returned home to be with her Heavenly Father—and her beloved boys who went before her.
Words feel wholly inadequate in moments like this. How can you possibly condense the life of someone so deeply loved, so fiercely strong, so joyfully full of heart, into a single message? The truth is—you can’t. But what we can do is try. We try because her life mattered. We try because her love mattered. We try because her legacy must continue to be spoken, remembered, and felt in the lives she touched so deeply.
To say I’m saddened doesn’t begin to scratch the surface. My heart aches for her family, especially her daughters, her mother, her sister, her grandparents, and her entire family. Their grief is compounded by already mourning the unimaginable loss of her sons. This kind of pain seems unfair—more than any one family should have to bear. And yet, in the midst of it all, we turn to the One who holds every broken heart in His hands. We turn to our faith, just as Taeler did.
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Taeler wasn’t just a friend. She was a sister in spirit, a creative partner, a woman of warmth and resilience. Our bond was forged through the lens of photography, and it became so much more. I was incredibly honored to have been entrusted by her and her family to document life’s moments—some joyous, some solemn, all precious. The time we spent capturing memories, laughing behind the camera, talking about life, sharing thoughts—those moments are gifts I will hold onto forever.
There’s something sacred about witnessing someone through a camera. You don’t just see the outside—you catch glimpses of their soul. And let me tell you, Taeler’s soul was beautiful. She had a quiet strength about her, a kind of grace that could calm storms, a sense of humor that could bring light to the darkest spaces, and a warmth that made you feel safe in her presence.
Her name was Joy, and she lived up to it, even when life tried to take that joy from her. She had endured things many of us could not imagine, and yet she kept going. She showed up for her daughters, for her loved ones, for her friends—and she did it with faith and love in her heart.
One of the greatest comforts I have today is knowing that Taeler gave her life to Christ last year. We all may ask, “Why now?” But perhaps the greater truth is: God knew what we did not. Her decision to walk with Christ, to give her heart to the Lord, was not random. It was part of a divine order that, while painful, is undeniably filled with purpose and grace.
He called her home. And while we grieve her absence, we can rest knowing she is whole again. She is reunited with her sons, wrapped in their arms and the embrace of our Heavenly Father. There is no more pain. No more sadness. No more weight on her shoulders. Just peace. Just joy. Just love everlasting.
To her daughters, I pray you always remember the love your mother poured into you. She was proud of you, she believed in you, and she would want you to continue walking in love and strength. You are her legacy—brilliant, beautiful, resilient. The same fire that burned in her burns in you. Let it guide you.
To her mother, sister, grandparents, and all her family—I wish I could wrap you in the collective embrace of everyone who loved Taeler. You have suffered the unimaginable, and yet you remain. I pray for your strength. I pray for your comfort. I pray that you will feel Taeler’s presence with you in the quiet, in the laughter, in the love that lingers long after someone is gone.
To everyone who knew her—whether for a season, a moment, or a lifetime—remember the kindness, the creativity, the courage she lived with. Honor her by loving others as she did. Carry her memory in the way you lift up her children, the way you speak life into others, the way you stand tall even when life tries to knock you down.
Taeler’s time here was not in vain. Her life made a difference. Her faith inspired. Her presence changed lives.
And though our tears fall heavy now, they are mingled with deep gratitude. Gratitude for the moments we had. Gratitude for her laughter. Gratitude for her hugs. Gratitude for the faith that assures us this is not the end. Just a “see you later.”
As we mourn, let us also celebrate. Celebrate the life of a woman who chose faith over fear. Celebrate the life of a mother who loved with her whole heart. Celebrate the life of a friend who left her mark on every soul she encountered.
So rest well, sweet Tae. You have finished your race. You have kept the faith. And now, you are free. Free to dance with your boys, free to bask in the presence of God, free from pain and sorrow.
Well done, thy good and faithful servant. You have made it home.
We love you. We miss you. We will never forget you.
Please, friends, continue to lift up her family in prayer—especially her girls. Surround them with love. Carry them with your words, your time, your presence.
And when you think of Taeler, think of joy. Think of strength. Think of a woman who overcame again and again—and left this world with grace.
Until we meet again, girlfriend. Rest eternally, in the light of His love. ❤️