Tina Marie Bright

Tina Marie Bright, 61, of Lawrenceville, IL, formerly of Mount Carmel, passed away on October 13, 2025, in the comfort of her home. From the very beginning, Tina had a spark that couldn’t be contained. She was funny and ornery in the best possible way; the kind of person who could turn a hard moment into laughter with one perfectly timed line that was probably not fit for polite company. She didn’t have much use for filters or facades; she just said what was true, always from a place of love. Her honesty had a way of cutting through the noise and reminding you what mattered.

She found joy in simple things: Bob Seger on the radio, rerun after rerun of Law & Order: SVU, and the giraffes that filled her home. Each one reflected something about her: gentle but strong, quirky but full of grace. Even her humor carried a kind of grace, brightening rooms and hearts in equal measure.

But behind the laughter was a woman with a rare kind of generosity. Tina would give you anything she had, and if she didn’t have it, she’d find a way to get it for you anyway. She thought of others long before she thought of herself, living out love not as a word, but as an action. She didn’t keep score, and she didn’t expect anything back. It simply wasn’t in her nature to turn away from someone in need.

Her life had its share of heartbreaks. She mourned deeply, especially after losing the love of her life, Cody. But even then, her love didn’t fade; it just grew quieter, deeper, steadier. That was the way she loved: fiercely, faithfully, all the way through.

And that love is the thread that runs through every part of her story. Her daughters — Mellissa, Chrystal, and Tiffany — were her pride, each a reflection of her strength and humor. Her son, Clayton, was her heart. After years of hoping for a boy, she finally got one, and from the very beginning, he was the light of her life. They spent countless hours together: laughing, talking, simply being near one another. And when her health began to fade, he returned that love in full, caring for her with the same tenderness she had always given him.

Her love as a mother flowed effortlessly into her love as a grandmother. After all, her grandchildren were her delight. She’d get down on the floor to play with them, even when her body begged her not to. Once, she even got herself stuck in a toy box and laughed until tears streamed down her face. Those are the moments her family will remember: the laughter, the chaos, and the love that filled every corner of her life.

Those who knew Tina know that her legacy isn’t measured in what she owned or accomplished. It’s written in the people she loved — a living reminder that love, once given, never really leaves, but continues quietly in the lives it shaped.

She will be deeply missed by her children, Mellissa Bright, Chrystal Hayes, Tiffany Ritter, and Clayton Bright; by her grandchildren, Austin, Drayden, Audree, Colton, Ashlee, Hailee, Joesph, Shianne, and Caden; by her great-grandchildren, Myla and Thomas; by her siblings, Mona Lisa Miley and Allen “Bubby” Holcomb; and by two nieces, three nephews, and several great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jerry Holcomb and Frances (Crane) Hutton; by her brother, Victor Clark Jr. (in infancy); and by her niece, Tisha Nicole Jones.

Tina is to be cremated, and the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to her memorial fund, with checks made payable to “Goodwine Funeral Homes.” Donations may also be made online at www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/payments.