A life well lived!  Celebrating Kamaria L. Gross

Kamaria Laurette Gross,,,,,,in Swahili her name means "peaceful like the moon". Affectionately known as Kam or Kami, she was the daughter of Karen Bozeman Gross and James Oliver Gross, a brilliant reflection of their shared love and legacy. Born of deep Southern and Mid-Western roots....her father from Memphis, Tennessee, her mother from Akron, Ohio...Kamaria was raised with a powerful sense of heritage, pride and purpose.

Her childhood was a dance between strength and grace.  She pirouetted through ballet classes and pivoted on basketball courts at the South Side YMCA, showing early she could be soft and strong. At twelve, she began to  walk in faith accepting Christ at New Hope Community Baptist Church.

Kamaria cultivated friendships at an early age, beginning at Beasley Elementary School and continuing her years at Whitney Young High School, where she excelled academically and co-captained the Pom Pom Squad, lighting up the halls with her passion and energy.

Always so determined and full of life, Kamaria proudly   declared...and fulfilled her dream of attending Howard University.  Howard wasn't just her school, it was her happy place and second family. At Howard University, Kamaria truly came unto her own. She quickly earned a scholarship from the Business school, became involved in tutoring and helping high school students, mastering higher level writing and mathematics and finally settling on a major in Legal Communications in the School of Communications.  Her parents encouraged her to accept the nomination to the Global Ambassadors Program.  Although she wanted to travel to Brazil, she accepted a slot to become an Ambassador to Eastern Europe.  She stepped outside her comfort zone and learned about the world of diplomacy to Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary.    Excited about her new global experiences, Kamaria was accepted and became initiated into the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., following the footsteps of her beloved grandmother Dr. Eleanor Smith Bozeman of the Pi Chapter at Fisk University.

Never one to stop flourishing, Kamaria returned home to Chicago setting her sights on a Masters Degree in Human Resources.  She completed her studies in 2010 and graduated from Loyola Business School. Her professional journey took her through impactful roles at the University of Chicago Feinberg Library, the Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Transit Authority.

Kamaria loved to travel, a "gene" she inherited from her mother and father (Peace Corps Venezuela 1967-69) .  At the age of 10, she got her first passport and travelled to Jamaica and returned a few years later with her best friend  Toya and God-mother, Cheryl.  In 1998, she participated in the Youth Adventures in Ghana organized by her family travel business, returning again in 1999-2000.   Kamaria traveled internationally to Aruba, Bahamas and Jamaica as an adult. She was looking forward to travelling to Jamaica again in 2025 to celebrated 20 years initiated into the Alpha Chapter of AKA.

The role she cherished most was "Mommy".

Kamaria' s daughter Kaiden....her heart, joy and legacy shared with Michael Collins, was the sun around which her world revolved.  Kamaria mothered with deep intention and an unshakeable love that will echo for generations.

Kamaria leaves behind her daughter, Kaiden Laurette Jihan Collins, her parents, Karen Laurette Bozeman Gross and James Oliver Gross, loving siblings, Robyn Wheatley McCoy and Jabari Wilfred Oliver Gross, aunts Melissa Bozeman Wolfsohn and Willie Levada Gross Moore, her friend and partner to the end, Michael Collins, cherished cousins, nieces and nephews and a host of friends who were honored to walk beside her in this life.

Her passing leaves behind a profound ache, but also a glowing legacy.  Kamaria taught us....by example...how to live with authenticity, love from your soul and measure what truly matters, Family, Friendships and Memories.  In her honor, please make donations to her Memorial Scholarship Foundation and Breast Cancer Awareness.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/kamaria-gross/obituary/

Copy