L'Tanya Michelle Wright's Obituary
The life and times of L’Tanya Michelle Wright…
“For His anger endureth but a moment in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but
joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 KJV
L’Tanya (Tan) Michelle Wright was born on April 27, 1960 at Mercy Hospital in San Diego,
California to Charles Edward Wright (deceased) and Rosana Buie Wright. After moving to Los
Angeles as a toddler, her mother remarried and Tan was raised by her step father, John H.
Whitted, Jr. (deceased).
Tan attended Hillcrest Elementary, Orville Wright Junior High and graduated from Westchester
High School in 1978. She was accepted into San Diego State University with a recommendation
from the great Olympian Jesse Owens a good friend of her mother’s.
After returning to Los Angeles she attended the prestigious Center for Early Education receiving
her teaching credentials and was a teacher there. Many celebrities and wealthy parents had
children enrolled in that school. She became well loved by her students, parents and fellow
teachers. Many weekends the students wealthy and celebrity parents would have her babysit.
She worked at the Center until she was diagnosed with Polymyosisis, (msp) a debilitating
disease that attack your muscles. Although she had treatments on a regular basis for the
problem it did not stop her from her passion to working with young people.
Tan was blessed with her one and only child, Justin K. Walker. Who she loved with everything
she had to give. He, his wife Marilee and six grandchildren who called her Tete was the joy of
her life. Kassidy, Alexa, Santana, Breeze, Blaze and Bear Walker gave her a reason to smile
every day.
She worked with her son’s fraternal grandparents, Hilldreth and Dr. Bettie Walker at their
organization, AMEN, which promoted positive development of young men and women. In
spite of her illness, Tan was a trouper. She spent an enormous amount of her free time with
her son, Justin, and oftentimes his friends in after school programs and every weekday, after
school at AMEN where the boys motto was: “ I am somebody and I will conduct myself like a
gentleman at all times even when nobody is looking”
While working with AMEN Tan was blessed with visiting South Africa along with her son, Justin
and her maternal grandmother. While in South Africa, the group had the privilege of meeting
President Nelson Mandela.
While in Johannesburg, the famous musician known as Africa’s Father of Jazz, Hugh Masekela,
who L’Tanya had met when she was five years old and his nephew, Mabusha Masekela visited
her and her grandmother at their hotel to welcome them to South Africa.
Later she worked as an assistant to her mother for the National Black McDonald’s Operators
Association.
Tan was exceptionally creative; when she was only twelve years old she baked her brother a
cake decorated as the United States flag for an elementary school cake contest. The teacher
and judges said that a twelve year old could not make such a cake and disqualified it from the
competition. Her step-father was livid and went to the school and confronted the teacher and
principal. This set-back did not discourage her. She continued to make cakes, Halloween
costumes, floral arrangements, photo books, gift baskets and decorations for different
occasions. Her friends and associates knew that she was a perfectionist and would get the job
done, whatever it may be. She loved the work she did and would not be satisfied with just
mediocre work. All you had to do was describe your idea or request to her and she could
visualize and duplicate it.
She loved to travel and was blessed that her job as assistant to the NBMOA provided her with
opportunities to visit a majority of the major cities in the United States.
Although during most of her adult life her body was ravaged with pain, her family and close
friends marveled at her determination and resilience to live a normal life. Her greatest joy in life
was fulfilled when she held her first grand baby, Kassidy, who she was fiercely protective and
spoiled her unconditionally. When she was blessed with Alexa, Santana, Breeze, Blaze and
Bear Walker she became the dotting and proud grandmother, spoiling each grandchild and
loving them all equally and spoiled them as only grandmothers can. Each grandchild loved their
Tete as much as she loved them.
Tan was a member of HOLMAN United Methodist Church for over twenty where she and her
son worshiped until she joined Community Missionary Baptist Church under Dr. Everson
“Chuck” Esters the Senior Pastor. Tan was a faith member of the Order of Eastern Star for
many years.
Sadly, she was attacked with Scleroderma, another ravaging disorder that affected her organs.
She battled it as long as she good, so God freed her of all the pain and agony and called her
home to be one of his angels her family truly believes.
Tan was truly loved and admired by many family and friends, who will always remember her
warm, lovely and captivating smile that you couldn’t resist, she loved all who she met and
called friend.
She leaves to mourn and miss her: her son Justin K. Walker (Marilee) grandchildren; Kaissdy,
Alexa, Santana, Breeze, Blaze and Bear; her mother Rosana Wright-Whitted, of Los Angeles.
Tan was extremely close to her two brothers and cherished them with all her heart and soul,
Troy E. Wright (Debbie), Edmonton, Canada, and Odis L. Campbell, San Diego.
Tan also had several God Children: Joseph Gespard, Los Angeles, Brianna and Michael Walker,
Los Angeles, and Leneisha of Palm Springs, California.
She has two niece’s, Skylise and Shaylaun Campbell, San Diego, California; and two great niece’s
Myra and Martie Whalen, Edmonton, Canada; four nephews, Anthony Wright, Edmonton,
Canada, Jamar Campbell, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jermaine Campbell, Toronto, Canada and
Tyler Whalen, Edmonton, Canada; four aunts, Betty Davis, Gloria James, Linda Avery, Faye
Wright, all of San Diego, one uncle, Arthur Buie, Jr. (Lola), Chula Vista, California. Aunts Annie
Mozee, and Melba Fields both of Los Angeles and her cousins and all her best friends who were
like her sisters and brothers: Melvin Wells, San Diego, Cherelle Norman (Tyron) and Winnie
Robinson, both of Houston Texas, Mervin Davis (Maria), Fort Hood, Texas, Vanessa Buie
Williams, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Kimber Buie Salter Bey (Ben), Rosario Beach, Mexico,
Tamela Cross, San Diego and, Johnnie James (Mallory), New Orleans, Louisiana, and her very
dear sister friend’s Sharon Campbell, San Diego, Michelle Armstrong, Valis Arlain, and Beverly
Smith, all of Los Angeles.
L’Tanya left us all on January 23, 2021 to be with her Heavenly Father, but will live in our hearts
forever.
What’s your fondest memory of L'Tanya?
What’s a lesson you learned from L'Tanya?
Share a story where L'Tanya's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with L'Tanya you’ll never forget.
How did L'Tanya make you smile?
