- Date Of Birth: October 8, 1962
- Date Of Death: October 8, 2018
- State: California
SHAWNA RENE’Y WILKINS-JONES was born October 8, 1962 in Las Vegas, NV she was the eldest child of Earnestine Lisby-Wilkins and Tommy Lee Wilkins, her biological father was Grady Jones. At an early age she moved with her parents to Anchorage, Alaska where she lived for seven years. In 1968, she moved to Oakland California and immediately fell in love with the city.
Shawna graduated from Berkeley High School and attended Job Core soon after. In her younger years, she worked at the Oakland Army Base and later for the Berkeley HeadStart Program as a Coordinator. Shawna had a smile to light up a room and a heart that just kept on giving, even in her last days shawna reached out to everyone she loved; just to tell them how much! she even reached out to individuals dealing with Lupus like herself and became an advocate and a mentor for them. She always had a happy spirit and it was rare that you would see her without a smile on her face and pure happiness in her eyes. Shawna never let her condition nor any other obstacle in life define her and would not sit down if you paid her to! Being sad around Shawna or as she would say “with the negativity”, was something she would not allow. she would always encourage, inspire and share her words of wisdom with her loved ones even when they doubted themselves. She made many friends throughout her life and anyone that knew her knew that she was a delight to be around and her personality made time with her even more joyful and memorable. Every day of Shawna’s life she was loving, kind, smart, caring,nuturing and happy and that is how she would want to be remembered.
Shawna loved her family she enjoyed traveling, she loved her music and was always “with the turn-up” as she would say. But one thing she loved more than anything was being a mother, at an early age she was told that she would not live past 30 years nor would she ever be able to concieve a child but God blessed her with a beautiful daughter Kiara Leann which whom she cherished and loved unconditionally. Shawna was also an amazing yet over protective big sister and made sure that all of her siblings knew that she was the boss! Her role as an Aunt was something she took very serious and always went above and beyond and doted on her neices and nephews. Though she had her favorites she loved them all the same. Shawna was a wonderful daughter and always showed the upmost respect to her mother, no matter what.
Shawna was always known for being an unforgettable woman. She was loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure. She is preceded in death by her father Tommy Lee Wilkins; her grandparents Willie Ann Lisby, Lee Henry Lisby and Daisy Bishop. Also her nephew Jason Moore; and two aunts Barbara Ducksworth and Georgette Franklin.
SHAWNA RENE’Y WILKINS-JONES leaves to cherish her loving memory, her beloved Mother Earnestine Wilkins of Stockton, CA and her father Grady Jones of Memphis, TN; her daughter Kiara Leann Jones of Elk Grove, CA; her siblings Camille Wilkins, Anissa Wilkins both of Stockton,CA. Mark Wilkins of Chicago, IL, Andre Jones and Kevin Jones both of Memphis, TN; her favorite aunt Zadie Smith; uncles Herbert Lisby, Raymond Lisby and Arnold Lisby; nieces Jerica White and Shantrice Billingsly. nephews Joshua Moore and Genesis Moore; also her longtime friends Jacqueline Jones and Chantell a host of individuals whom she embraced and welcomed as her family and friends. Shawna will always hold a special place in all of our hearts.
