Takisha Stokes

On August 13, 1978, the Lord sent to us one of his most precious angels, Takisha Cozette Stokes, to spiritually author the narrative of a selfless woman with unwavering faith. Takisha’s story started when she was born to the late Eugene Stokes and Nellie Hunt Stokes in Danville, Virginia. With insurmountable faith as her guide and her beloved mother by her side, Takisha peacefully returned to her heavenly father on Thursday, November 26, 2015. After a short but courageous battle with cancer, she surrendered to the will of God with the same fearless spirit with which she lived and accepted that her task on Earth was complete. Though her time here with us on Earth was short, her impact was undeniably significant. As the only child, Takisha was lovingly nurtured by her parents. She was baptized at an early age at Sassafras Grove Baptist Church in Yanceyville, North Carolina. Desiring to experience God in a personal way, Takisha frequently attended Gospel Tabernacle Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland and her family’s bible study groups. A strong believer in the power of prayer, Takisha started a private text-based prayer line with a small group of persons she considered to be her spiritual warriors. It continues in her memory. Takisha was a very smart child who never took for granted the value of an education. She attended and graduated Magnum Cum Laude from Bartlett Yancey Senior High School in 1996. Takisha furthered her education at North Carolina Central University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. Fully immersing herself in the world of academia, Takisha held the honorable esteem of president of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society and graduated in the Class of 2000 as a Cum Laude scholar. While getting the college experience was important, it was no substitute for a home cooked meal and no competition to precious time spent with loved ones. Without fail, she went home every weekend from college to care for her “mama” and grandmother. Her love for scholarship and service led her to join Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated with 93 sisters on November 21, 1999 through the Alpha Lambda Chapter. She served on the Educational Development Committee, with most of her work focusing on the America Reads Initiative. Not just a Delta by name, she continuously supported the ideals of her sisterhood and personal endeavors of her line sisters. In 2008, she became a member of the Baltimore Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter. Takisha could be counted on to support transformational programs that had a significant impact on the local community in the areas of political awareness and youth programming. Service was a common thread throughout Takisha’s life. She contributed over a decade of service to underserved and emotionally challenged youth in the District of Columbia, Baltimore and Virginia areas as a special educator and mental health counselor. Takisha’s loving spirit allowed her to accept all clients as they were but it was this same loving spirit that would not allow her to leave them unchanged. She unapologetically challenged them to demand more of themselves. Because of her rapport with them, her clients were willing to go the distance to meet the challenge. She would not allow others to be, feel or remain a victim of their circumstances so, she motivated her clients to become the authors of their own destiny. Where society had placed periods, Takisha gave her clients the resources needed to replace those periods with commas and the audacity to write more pages. When no longer able to give of her time at her job, Takisha shared with the world her gift of writing. Until the last few days of her life, Takisha was a publicist who wrote persuasive press releases for small businesses. What is it that we remember when we think of Takisha Stokes? Her sense of humor? Her affectionate smile? Her passion for social justice? The innumerable times we hit for ingenious, satirical, highly-opinionated social media posts? While all of these may be true, none compare to remembering how she made us feel. Her selflessness, thoughtfulness and loyalty to relationships made us feel valued and important. Takisha treasured her time with family and valued her friendships that grew from professional relationships or sisterly bonds with childhood friends. Her love understood no boundaries and was not predicated upon how much you gave to her first or in return. Her actions showed it and our hearts felt it!! She loved and looked out for her cousins, especially Tammy, Shannon, Shawn and Antoine as if they were her brothers and sisters. She worried about (her Mama and Buddy Boy), frequently called (Aunt Florence and Adell) and randomly took road trips to visit or support her elderly(Uncle Johnny) and younger family members as if she were their caretakers. Whether donating clothes to a food drive, helping others to write essays or sending a card to someone in need, friends could depend on Takisha to support them in reaching their dreams and getting through their biggest life moments with as much passion as she pursued her own. There is no love like a mother’s love and there was no tighter bond like the one shared between Takisha and her mother. Takisha’s love and admiration for her mother is best described in her own words: “There’s something to be said about a God-fearing woman who prays for me, is always by my side, and never fails to remind me of God’s goodness. She loves me unconditionally and never waivers in her commitment to see me through this battle. My Mother’s Love is Priceless!” Takisha took her first and last breaths with her mother by her side and they were there for each other for all the moments in between. What a blessing to experience such love! Takisha’s last days may have been the final chapter to her earthly story, but it can serve as an outline for us who continue to write this book of life—live fearlessly, love without permission, trust in God unwaveringly and believe hard enough in what it is you want so that others are convicted to believe alongside you with the same convincing spirit. She personified how to live, not just survive, through the good and the bad. Her unconquerable spirit, faith, courage and perseverance are qualities we all should aspire to attain. Those impacted and inspired by her story will always be #TeamTakisha. In addition to her mother Mrs. Nellie Hunt Stokes, Takisha leaves to cherish her memory and tell her story: aunts and uncles, Florence Harrison (James), Izetta Warner (Jacob) and Adell Edmonds (James); uncles, Rev. William Hunt, Chanston Hunt and Lenwood Stokes; great-aunts Susie Williams, Josephine Williams, Welchie Stokes, Addie Stokes; great- uncle Cecil Stokes; great-uncle and godparent, John Fulton; and a host of cousins, other relatives and devoted friends.

Tributes

Takisha Stokes

August 13, 1978 - November 26, 2015