Funeral services set for Rochester woman killed in stampede at Main Street Armory concert

Funeral services for the Rochester women killed during a stampede at a GloRilla concert held at the Main Street Armory will be held next week.

Brandy Miller, 35, of Rochester, Aisha Stephens, 35, of Syracuse, and Rhondesia Belton, 33, of Buffalo, died and at least six people were injured after being caught up in a crush of concertgoers who surged toward the exits after the March 5 show. Police said concertgoers described hearing what they believed to be gunshots, but no evidence of gunfire has been found.

Brandy Miller of Rochester, NY

Brandy Miller was a happy, compassionate and generous woman. Miller, who worked as a certified nursing assistant, died Monday night after her family donated her organs. A video was shared widely on social media showing doctors, nurses and other medical professionals lining the hallway at Strong Memorial Hospital for her honor walk, a ceremonial walk to celebrate the donor and the gift of life for others while accompanied to the operating room. According to her family, Miller's heart, kidneys and liver were donated.

"Brandy's life was one full of love and joy," Miller's aunt Tanisa Spencer said in an online fundraiser that she launched to pay for Miller's funeral. "If you knew her, you knew that her spirit could lift anyone out of a bad mood. She cherished her life and celebrated her loved ones. She was a loving sister, auntie, niece, and friend."

Since last week, more than $15,000 has been donated to the online fundraiser.

Michelle Miller told WROC-TV (Channel 8) that her sister Brandy "was a ball of energy," who represented happiness and life. She "didn’t live her life to other standards, she lived her life to what she wanted it to be.”

And through her donated organs, Michelle Miller said her sister's positive spirit will live on.

Miller described her sister and the two other women killed as "beautiful souls," and said she is thinking of their families as they cope with their loss and pain..

Calling hours for Miller will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 20, at the Salvation Army chapel, 100 West Ave., Rochester. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, at the same location.

Rhondesia Belton of Buffalo, NY

Rhondesia Belton ― who friends and family lovingly called ‘Desia’ ― was a dedicated mother, a loyal friend and a protector who kept her younger sister close to her side, including on the night she died.

Belton and her sister Ronisha Houston were at the GloRilla concert March 5 to celebrate Houston’s birthday, according to social media posts. Houston told WHAM-TV (Channel 13) she was arm-to-arm with her sister, moving toward the exit of the venue, when they were suddenly separated and pulled into two separate crowds. After about five to 10 minutes, Houston said, she made it back to her sister, pulled her from beneath a pile of concert-goers and attempted CPR, to no avail. Belton, a city employee in Buffalo’s traffic violations agency, died that night.

“What a life to take … what a bond to break. My sister. My best friend. My protector,” Houston wrote on Facebook, announcing funeral services for Belton held Tuesday.

Belton also leaves behind a 3-year-old son, Rhian, whom “she lived for, prayed for and asked God for,” according to her mother, Rhonda Vick. Vick launched an online fundraiser to cover funeral expenses and raise money for Rhian’s future.

Danielle Gallon said she and Belton, who knew each other since they were 9 years old, called each other not by their names, but simply, “best friend.”

“She really exceed(ed) that title,” Gallon wrote on Facebook, sharing old photos of their friendship over several posts.

Gallon said the pair always talked about raising their kids together and made true on that promise when their children were born four months apart.

“I promise to make sure (Rhian) and Cali grow up together, ain’t nothing changing,” she wrote.

Aisha Stephens of Syracuse, NY

The Syracuse community lost a changemaker when Aisha Haskins-Stephens was confirmed as the third fatal victim of the GloRilla concert stampede.

Haskins-Stephens, 35, died March 8 at Strong Memorial Hospital, where she was in critical condition following the incident at the Main Street Amory.

"How do you make inroads and shift life-altering changes in young people's lives that the world has written off? Easy, You unleash the love and talents, and personality of someone like Aisha," The Good Life Foundation wrote on their Facebook page as part of a tribute to Haskins-Stephens, who worked for the nonprofit that assisted at-risk youth.

Guiding the youth was an instrumental part of her life.

Haskins-Stephens coached the Kirk Park Colts cheerleading team at Central New York Pop Warner for ten years. On Facebook, a parent praised her impact.

"She used to come home every day from practice like I'm really quitting. I'm not going back," Sierra Floyd wrote about her daughter, who Haskins-Stephens coached, in a 2018 Facebook post. "Little Miss Siarie performed today. She gave me life. Hats off to Aisha Haskins-Stephens."

Floyd reposted the message with a broken heart emoji on March 10, five years after the original message.

In the hours and days after her death was announced, the social media posts continued as people mourned and honored the youth advocate.

"May your beautiful soul rest in peace," Toya Dixson wrote. "Your smile will never be forgotten."

Funeral services for Haskins-Stephens are set for Saturday, March 25.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Funeral services set for victim of stampede at GloRilla concert