A beautiful life. A loving daughter. A supporting sister. A fierce heart. A tragedy that should never have happened - and a legacy that continues to change lives.
Who Rianna Was
Rianna Lynn Glass was vibrant, artistic, funny, stubborn in the best way, and full of a radiant energy that drew people in. She had a smile that could flip an entire day from bad to bright, and a quiet kindness that made others feel safe to be themselves.
She was the kind of girl who noticed when someone was sitting alone and sat with them. She was the one friends confided in because she listened -really listened- without judging. She was gentle, but strong. Sensitive, by resilient. Soft-hearted, but fiercely loyal. She defended people who couldn’t defend themselves, comforted people who were hurting, and loved her family with everything she had.
Rianna loved art – not just the kind you draw, but the kind you live. Her creativity showed up in the way she dressed, the music she liked, the way she decorated her rooms, the photos she took, and the little notes she left for people she cared about.
She was also a natural athlete. She played softball with heart and grit, not because she needed to be the best, but because she loved the game, the team, and the feeling of belonging to something bigger.
She also danced with such beauty, grace, and elegance.
But most of all, Rianna was a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend.
She was loved beyond measure – and she loved deeply in return.
The Little Things She Loved
It’s the little things that make a person unforgettable.
- She loved butterflies, especially the color purple
- She had a soft spot for sunsets, and always pointed them out.
- She laughed hardest at the smallest things – especially inside jokes with family.
- She adored music, the kind you feel more than hear.
- She treasured time with her siblings, always trying to be the best sister she could be.
- She loved soft blankets, oversized hoodies, and cozy nights in.
- She had a creative, expressive side – her art, her photos, her style, her energy.
- She enjoyed dancing at 3D Dance Studio and never forgot the joy it brought her.
These are the details the world doesn’t get to see – but they are what made Rianna Rianna.
Her Dreams for the Future
Rianna wasn’t just living for today – she had dreams for tomorrow. Big dreams. Beautiful dreams. She wanted to help people. She wanted to make a difference.
She talked about going into Marriage & Family Services – a field where she could support kids and teens who needed someone to listen. Someone who cared. Someone who understood.
She dreamed of attending DeSales University, and looked forward to the future with the quiet excitement of someone who finally believed she had found her path.
She deserved the chance to grow up, to chase her dreams, to discover who she would have become.
That chance was stolen.
The Relationship That Changed Everything
Rianna entered a relationship believing it was love – the kind of love teens often think is special, powerful, or rare. Like many young people, she trusted deeply, cared intensely, and wanted to believe the best in someone who didn’t deserve the gift of her heart.
But over time, the relationship shifted.
What began subtly became clear in ways that still haunt her family today:
- He became controlling.
- He isolated her from friends and family.
- He manipulated her emotions.
- He made her feel responsible for his moods and reactions.
- He used guilt, fear, and pressure to keep her close.
These signs – the very ones Rianna’s Voice now teaches teens to recognize – were present long before anyone fully saw the danger.
Rianna didn’t know she was in an abusive relationship.
Most teens don’t.
And the cost of that lack of awareness was devastating.
The Day Everything Changed
On September 14, 2023, Rianna was murdered by the person she trusted – the boy she believed cared about her.
There are no words that can capture the depth of that loss.
The world lost a bright, loving, soulful teenager.
A family lost a daughter.
A father lost his baby girl.
A community lost a voice it didn’t know it needed.
Her father never got to say goodbye.
Never got the moment every parent needs – to hold their child’s hand one last time.
Never got to tell her all the things he still wanted to say.
The pain is permanent. The wound doesn’t heal.
But in the devastation, a promise was born.
A Father's Promise
After losing Rianna, her father, Terry, faced the unimaginable. A heartbreak that deep doesn’t just break you – it rewrites who you are.
Through grief, anger, disbelief, and unbearable sorrow, one truth became clear:
No parent should ever experience this.
No teen should ever eel so trapped or controlled.
No community should ever be silent about teen dating violence again.
From that truth, Rianna’s Voice was born.
Not out of charity.
Not out of obligation
But out of love – fierce, relentless, unconditional love – for a daughter who deserved so much more.
Her Legacy Lives On
Every presentation.
Every teen who asks for help.
Every school that brings in education.
Every parent who learns the warning signs.
Every student who says, “Thank you, I needed this.”
Every life protected…
…that is Rianna’s voice still speaking.
Her life had meaning.
Her story has purpose.
And through this mission, she continues to protect others – even in her absence.
Help Carry Her Voice Forward
Rianna’s story should never have been a story of loss.
But her legacy can be a story of change.
Together, we can protect teens, educate families, and stop dating violence before it begins.
