Shalayah Deann Woods-Warren was born as a twin on February 12, 2006, to loving parents, Mary Ann Warren and Robert Woods, Jr. in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her arrival brought so much joy, love, and excitement to her family. She was reared by her maternal grandmother, Mary Lee Warren and Shalayah could be found always laughing and joking with her grandmother all the time. Even as a baby, she made everyone smile with her sweet and joking personality.
During her education experience with Minneapolis Public Schools, Shalayah built relationships with many of her favorite school staff and teachers. She also connected with the community and medical staff that worked with her through some of her more challenging moments. For her primary years, she attended Elizabeth Hall School. She really enjoyed singing, joking, laughing, road trips to Mississippi, and spending much time with her twin sister. Although she was the younger twin, she always told everyone else what to do, and always bossed her twin sister around, and always told her twin she was not the oldest. She attended Marcy and Franklin Middle Schools and enjoyed science labs and group time. Shalayah attended Roosevelt and Harrison High School, and during her junior year she enjoyed Girls Group. She would come home every Monday to tell her twin sister, Shaliyah, all about what she talked about in Girls Group for her future hopes, dreams, and aspirations.
Shalayah continued to enjoy singing, dancing, doing Tik Toks, WWE, being a foodie, water parks, watching YouTube, rapping, drawing, and painting. Some of her other fav's were going to the mall, skating, skateboarding, and hanging out with friend and her siblings, especially Cherish, Recia, Evephesia, and Shaliyah. She also loved the family dog, JuJu; they were inseparable. Her favorite color was blue, so much so she renamed herself "Blue" for a while. One of her favorite songs was Charlie Wilson's "I'm Blessed". Shalayah brought joy to any room she entered through her curiosity and soft spirit with others. She really enjoyed jamming to Disney Channel songs with Ephesia, play fighting and talking to Aunt Tabin and talking to her Aunt Leo before her passing. She especially enjoyed talking to her Granny about life and had a favorite story. She and her twin's favorite memory included them doing the hot chip challenge. They both chased and ran around the house each fighting for the milk because their mouths was on fire. Another funny, but best story, included the twins at 13 years old standing on the corner asking for donations for the Animal Humane Society. As soon as they got their first $20 donation, they shut down shop and walked to the store to load up on snacks. They laughed quite often together about this story because the guy that made the donation said to them, "You guys are really gonna spend this on the Animal Humane Society aren't you?" They nodded yes and there they went!
Shalayah passed on February 22, 2023, abruptly and unexpectedly. She will forever be missed by family and friends. Shalayah was preceded in death by great uncles/aunts; Burtis Warren, Ellis Erving, Jr, Arthur Erving, Willie C. Winters, AD Erving, Leora Pierce, Marjorie Erving, Jackie Flanagan, Richard Keys, Rodger Keys, Willie Keys, Roberta Keys, and uncles; Bo Lee Woods and Carl Jamison Woods. She leaves to cherish her legacy and memory and will continue live through her parents, Mary Ann Warren and Robert Woods, Jr. of Minneapolis, MN; grandparents, Mary Lee Warren (adopted mother) of Minneapolis, MN, Wood Ray Warren of Durant, MS, Roselle Keys of Minneapolis, MN, and Robert Woods, Sr. of Bloomington, IL; her siblings; Benny Warren, Mikhael Warren, Alexzier Warren, Talivia (twin sister), Recia Woods, Angel Woods, Jacarah Woods (aka Jacy Warren), and Ambriunte (Sunny) Nelson, all of Minneapolis, MN; aunt; Shelia Padilla, Zeffiany Warren, Lawanda Warren, Robin Keyes and Diane Woods of Minneapolis, MN; niece, Mikyla Russell; nephews, Nysiaih Warren, Josiaih Warren, and Hezekiah Russel; and cousin that she took great care of, Messiah "UMI" Powell, all of Viola Collins of West, MS, Dillie Thompson of Hattiesburg, MS, and Roberta Manning of Freeport, IL; great uncles, Van (Kay Frances) Erving and Emmitt Erving, both of West, MS, George Erving of Jackson, MS, Roosevelt (Icy) Fletcher of Kosciusko, MS, and JJ Keys of Bloomington, IL; and a host of cousins, relatives, and friends.
Place of Service: Winters Funeral Home, Kosciusko, MS
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