Karima was born on the island of St. Croix on January 22, 1975. There, she attended St. Mary’s Catholic School for her primary years of schooling and then went on to John H. Woodson Jr. High School for middle grades and later earned her high school diploma from St. Croix Central High School in 1993. Karima excelled in track and field while in middle school and later in high school she excelled in art and was fortunate to have her artwork showcased in Washington, DC and placed on exhibit at the Good Hope School Art Show on St. Croix. Some of Karima’s art now grace the walls of offices and homes on St. Croix. Karima later earned an Associates Degree in Business Management from the University of the Virgin Islands in 2003.

Growing up, Karima modeled extensively for Cyndee’s Models in the Isle, a modeling agency owned by her older sister Cyndee. She traveled the Caribbean and the United States with the agency, earning numerous accolades and awards such as Super Model of the Year, Best Runway Model and Best Swimwear Model. Karima entered the Miss Hawaiian Tropics Pageant and later placed first runner up in the Miss U.S. Virgin Islands pageant- she was extremely proud of both pageants in which she won numerous trophies that line her parent’s showcase at home. Karima was not only a talented model but a talented singer and dancer as well – some will say that she was the best at everything she did and she just enjoyed life to the fullest.

Karima joined the Army in 1999 and was stationed in Vicenza, Italy where her specialty was as a Motor Transport Specialist. Karima used her training in this field to take advantage of numerous employment opportunities. She later also enlisted as an Army reservists after she relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 2004 where she resided until her death on March 24th, 2012.

Karima Gordon, 37, died in Riverdale, Georgia on March 24th, 2012

She is survived by her parents, Roderick and Anna Gordon; her son, Khallid Nurse; her sisters Khadija and Khalilah Gordon, Cyndee Ible Frontal and Medina Roberts; brothers, Roderick “Junie” Jr. and Eugene Gordon; aunts, Anita Gordon Plaskette, Elizabeth Willette and Lynette Skeete; uncles, Charles Phillip and Valentine Phillip; nieces, Aaliyah Frontal, Shaliyah and Shakira Gordon, Kamaria Griffith; nephews, Roderick Gordon III, Jair Griffith, and Luis Frontal Jr.; Brothers-in law Luis Frontal Sr. and Luis Rivera; cousins, Shakima Nesbitt, Osman Gordon, Leston Willette, Nerissa and Natasha Waterman, Lolia, Temisan and Jemila Adoki, Devin and Marvin Waterman, Ned and Jillian Adoki, Valerie and Earl Waterman Sr., Cerene, Stephanie, Sandra, Viola, Troy, Chesney, Valney, Diana, Vernon and Philmore Southwell, Hilarie Jones, Ursil Jones, and Diane Brown; special family friend, Winifred Dodson. Additional family and friends are too numerous to mention.