- Date Of Birth: October 12, 1963
- Date Of Death: April 21, 2017
- State: Alabama
Tonya Lynn Cameron Finney entered this life on October 12, 1963 in Frankfort, Ky. She entered into eternal rest on April 21, 2017 at Decatur Morgan Hospital- Decatur General Campus. Tonya was the beautiful and loving daughter of the late Reverend Willie and Helen Cameron former pastor of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church-Athens, AL. The Cameron’s became the adoptive parents of Tonya Lynn in 1964 in Frankfurt, Kentucky and she went to live with her parents in Lynch, Kentucky. The family later moved to Athens, Alabama upon the Reverend Cameron’s retirement as a coal miner.
Tonya Lynn attended Southwest Center, Clements High School, University of Alabama-Huntsville and the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Tonya, excelled in academics in school at all levels, participating in band, cheerleading, 4H Club, Future Homemakers of America, Beta Club, Science Club and winning the Scholars Bowl. She was voted the best dressed female in the class of 1981 as well as numerous academic accolades in her high school graduating class. Tonya was a senior drum majorette in high school with her baby sister Shannon.
Tonya was a full merit scholarship recipient at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, and later transferred to the University of Alabama-Birmingham graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering principals and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes. Tonya worked at Huntsville, Decatur and Athens-Limestone Hospital installing, maintaining and providing technical support for biomedical equipment; she designed and created equipment, devices, computer systems and software used in healthcare.
When Tonya was hospitalized the hospital staff remembered her from her days working with them as a biomedical engineer.
In 2014 God blessed Tonya and Shannon with the discovery of their biological brother Troy James who lives with his wife Taryn and children in Cincinnati, Ohio. Troy was able to share memories of their birth mother Mary Lynn James who preceded Tonya in death. Both women adore their brother Troy, his family and the love that only he and his beautiful family can provide; truly a gift from God.
In the last days of Tonya’s life she was blessed with a loving companion, Robert Shelton who loved her deeply. Tonya worked as a caterer for Moe’s Southwest Grill in Decatur where she was affectionately known as Momma Tee-Tee. Many patrons would enjoy Tonya’s thunderous voice as patrons entered the facility by saying, “Welcome to Moe’s!” Tonya loved her beloved Zada, her family and Robert.
