TaíShay Shereé Hawk

TaíShay Shereé Hawk was born on June 25, 1991, in Burlington, New Jersey, to Barbara Bell Hawk and Gregory Charles Hawk. As part of a military family, she lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, for three years; Heidelberg, Germany, for three years; and Georgia for three years before settling in Virginia.

At a young age, "Shay Shay", as she was affectionately nicknamed by her family, loved the Backstreet Boys, Salt N' Peppa, and playfully proclaimed she would marry Usher Raymond until she figured out, "Usher was old!"

TaíShay was a member of the National Beta Honor Society in her formative years. She graduated from Menchville High School in Newport News, VA, in 2009. Following high school, TaíShay attended Saint Paul College in Lawrenceville, VA. Shay loved spending her leisure time writing, reading, and drawing.  She also enjoyed language arts and history.  One of the family's fond memories was when she wrote a letter to her favorite Aunt Stephanie and began, "Dear Aunt StepForKnee," showing how seriously she took pronunciation and language. TaíShay always expressed her desire to become a nurse and had planned to enroll in nursing school next year.

As a former competitive cheerleader, Shay invested time in staying physically fit, yet she still loved seafood and a good steak. When it came to her music, you could always find Shay listening to R&B, Hip Hop, and even Alternative Rock, music that would often blast through her car speakers and annoy her mom. More importantly, you could always count on seeing her big smile. Her Mom lovingly called it her "Clown Smile."

TaíShay is preceded in death by her Grandmother, Elnora Bell; Uncle Charles (Kendra Bell); Nephew, Lamonee Chisholm-Johnson; and Aunt, Ella Deloris Bell.

TaíShay leaves behind her parents, Barbara and Gregory Hawk; her sister, Quintonia Rodgers (Jonas), and her brother, Verlenzo (Rennie) Hawk. She also leaves her three beautiful children, Jhamiere Jenkins, Chaelen Hines, and Titan Hines. She is survived as well by her uncles William Bell (Yvonne), Willie Bell Sr., Raymond Bell (Lavender), Nate Bell, Clinton Bell (Brenda), Michael Hawk, and Kenneth Hawk (Donna), her Great-Aunt Doris "Dot" Hayes, Aunt Patricia Bell, her Nephew, DeVaughtné Chisholm, and Great-Niece, Ellamari Chisholm, and her close cousins Rasean Bell, Willie Bell Jr. (Anika), and Diamond Bell, all who held a special place in her life, along with a host of cousins, loved ones, and close friends Tiffany Correll, Candice Young, Tatianna Perea, and Zoe Whittaker.

Service Information

The viewing will be held on Monday, December 1st, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at O. H. Smith and Son Funeral Home in Newport News, VA.

The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, December 2nd, at 12:00 PM at Gethsemane Baptist Church, also in Newport News, VA. Attendees are kindly asked to wear a shade of pink to the services. O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.