Days after Samuel Monroe Jr.'s family confirmed his death at 52, his wife has stepped forward with her own tribute to the Menace II Society actor - remembering him as a husband, father, and "fighter" to the very end.
Shawna Stewart shared an emotional message on Facebook following Monroe's death Wednesday, August 26, at Providence Saint Joseph Burbank Hospital in California.
"There are no words that can truly express the depth of my heartbreak or the emptiness I feel without you," Stewart wrote. "Samuel, you were so much more than the talented actor and rapper the world knew and loved. You brought laughter, strength, kindness, and love into the lives of so many people."
Monroe had been hospitalized since April, first for meningitis and MRSA pneumonia, before suffering more than 20 seizures in late July that led to brain swelling and a third brain surgery, according to updates his family shared throughout his illness.
Stewart praised her husband's resilience through the ordeal, calling him a "fighter" and writing, "Your journey on this earth may have come to an end, but your light will continue to shine," adding that his legacy lives on through their children, Kingston and Brooklynn.
Her words echoed the same trust in God that carried Monroe's family through his hospitalization - from early requests for prayer to his mother's final message announcing that "God called him home."
Monroe broke out in 1993's Menace II Society before appearing in Set It Off, Tales from the Hood, and The Players Club. He is survived by his wife, mother, and three children.
Related Article: "God Called Him Home": 'Menace II Society' Actor Samuel Monroe Jr. Dies at 52
