Tonya Lumpkin-Dees, 62, passed Saturday, June 8, 2024 in Columbus, GA.

Funeral service at 11:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at Body of Christ Church International with Bishop G. Keith, pastor, officiating. Public viewing from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Tonya Annette Lumpkin-Dees was born on February 12, 1962, the eldest child to Josephine Smith in Philadelphia, PA. She and her mother moved to Bronx, New York in 1964. She was then adopted by her mother’s husband, the late Mr. James Sherman, Sr., whom she called her father. She was educated in the New York public school system, where she graduated from Grace Dodge High School in 1980. She matriculated to Westchester Community College and worked as an Executive Secretary with the American Cancer Society in Harlem, NY.

She also worked for the New York Telephone Company from 1982 – 1998, where she moved from New York to Columbus, Georgia in November 1998 where she married Mr. Johnny Lumpkin. From their union produced a son, Joshua Tyler Lumpkin who was born on February 8, 2000.

Tonya later met Mr. Darryl Stephen Dees in 2013 and they were married on May 10, 2014, in Atlanta, Georgia. Tonya and Darryl shared a love for New York and food. Tonya loved to cook for her friends and family, and she loved to sing, dance, doing work in the community and her latest passion, Crafting. She had a creative mind and would spend hours learning new things and would apply her “personal” touch.

She worked at various jobs in Columbus, Georgia (AFLAC, TSYS, Best Buy, Ft. Moore and Enterprise Rental). She was best known for her work at Best Buy, where she worked for the “Geek Squad” team.

Tonya was also very active in her community. She joined Griffin Chapter No. 386 – Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated in April 2007, where she led the Chapter as Worthy Matron from 2011-2012. She was also a chartered member of Daughters of Zion Chapter No. 20 – Heroines of Jericho and transferred to W.E. Terry Court No. 6 in 2015 where she served as Most Ancient Matron from 2018-2019. Tonya was also a chartered member of Al-Karim Court No. 219 – Daughters, an Auxiliary of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America and Its Jurisdiction, Inc. Her latest organization she joined was Naomi Court No. 2 – Ladies of the Circle of Perfection (L.O.C.O.P), Prince Hall Afiliated in 2023.

As mentioned, Tonya loved to sing and when you hear her sing, you knew it was a gift from God. She sang for Loyal Baptist Church – Bronx, New York and with the Voices of the Kingdom at Body of Christ Church International - Phenix, City, AL. While in NY, she sang backup for various gospel recording artists as well.

Tonya was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Columbus, Georgia. She is survived by her loving husband, Darryl Stephen Dees; her son Joshua Tyler Lumpkin, her mother Ms. Josephine Sherman, brothers James Sherman, Jr.(Tallahassee, Fla) and James Earl Johnson (Phila, PA); sisters Shana’ McCants (Snellville, GA); Stephanie DeCosta; Heather Bright-Haywood and Bethany Bright (Phila, PA), grandson Master Kamari Rahim Lumpkin, her childhood friend Mary King (Kelly) Atlanta, GA and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.