Senior Emmerie Napier grew up surrounded by family: her parents, three brothers and a Chinese-Jamaican lady her mother met as a social worker.

Hyacinth Smith — or Miss Hya, as Napier’s family called her — met Napier’s mother, San Napier, during one of her home visits where Smith was a foster parent and San Napier was her case manager.

“She just became like a grandmother to all of us,” Napier said. “If anybody ever asked about our grandparents, she’s who we would talk about.”

Food became an integral part of their relationship. Smith, who’s ethnically Chinese, grew up in Jamaica and was renowned for her fusion Chinese-Jamaican food. She would show Napier’s mom how to cook special dishes, visiting twice a month to hang out and make dinner.

“She had this really special fried rice that she would always make us,” Napier said. “Even if you weren’t in our immediate family, you knew about Miss Hya’s fried rice.”

Growing up, Napier often went to Chinatown with her grandmother where they’d have lunch at Golden Dumpling, go to Asian grocery stores searching for Portuguese sausage and mustard greens to perfect their fried rice and end the day watching Crazy Rich Asians.

“Shopping with her always brought me so much joy because I felt like I had more family,” Napier said. “I was always really excited to go with her, and then I would be so excited to tell people that ‘I hung out with my grandma yesterday’ because she was so interesting and fun to be around.”

When Napier got to middle school, Smith moved to Tennessee to be with family. Although planning to move back to Houston, her health had other plans. Smith was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, and her cancer returned in 2023 when Napier was in eighth grade.

Smith passed away Napier’s freshman year of high school. The last time Napier saw her grandmother was at her choir’s winter concert, where her grandmother gifted her a gold necklace with a pendant of the Virgin Mary.

Now, Napier wears it to every concert.

“It was hard when it first happened,” Napier said. “But I find that it’s really, in a way, easy for me to keep her in my life through all the things and experiences that she gave me. I can just go back to those places and feel connected to her.”

Napier’s relationship with Smith taught her that the meaning of family goes beyond who a person is biologically related to.

“I think, if anything, that sometimes can be a stronger bond to me, because it’s not like you’re obligated,” Napier said. “You just really, truly love this person and you consider them to be your family.”

For Napier, what defined her grandmother wasn’t just the food they made together or the memories they shared, but the values she instilled in her.

“She always just taught me to look for the good in people, to have a positive outlook on life and to find joy in the little things,” Napier said. “As I get older, it gets harder, but I try to remember her and I try to remember that.”

Even though Smith never got the chance to write down her recipes for Napier and her family, Napier hopes she’ll be able to convey the impact her grandmother had on her life.

“I’m Black, but if my kids grow up eating Chinese fried rice, that can solidify the fact that there can be a million people who have an influence on your life in so many different ways and that you shouldn’t limit yourself when finding people to connect with,” Napier said.

Smith is remembered by Napier and her family for her love of cooking, thick Jamaican accent and all the joy in her heart.

“I am just eternally grateful that fate or God or whatever put her in my mom’s life,” Napier said. “I never had a grandmother, but I think I know what it feels [like], and I’m so grateful for that.”