Tiara Whitfield

And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7

It was once stated in a song that a picture paints a thousand words; and it will always be that beautiful smile and pretty face for us Tiara, the one that lit up every room you ever entered.  It is with overwhelming sadness, but also with an assured confidence in Christ Jesus that we celebrate the beautiful life of our beloved, Tiara Aiesha Latrice Whitfield.

A devoted and loving mother, a beloved daughter, a beautiful and nurturing sister, an amazing aunt, a caring granddaughter, a sweet niece, the favorite cousin, the kindest classmate and truly a loyal friend.

On Monday, July 5, 2021, while at home in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Tiara Aiesha Latrice Whitfield transitioned to her heavenly home suddenly surrounded by the prayers of her loving family and friends. 

The beautiful life of Tiara Aiesha Latrice Whitfield was born into time on Wednesday, December 21, 1988, at the former Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to her mother, the late Altovise “Punkin” Reid and her father, Tony “Bear” Whitfield and was gifted to her loving mother, Karen Reid, immediately following her birth.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Altovise Reid, grandmother, Patricia Reid-Bishop,  grandfathers, Charles Moore Sr. and Leroy Booth, great-grandparents, Jimmy Hicks, Robert Taylor, Sarah Tyms and James and Annie Mae Cooper; aunt, Nicole Moore; great-aunts, Jamesanna Farmer and Adrianne Atkins; great-uncles, Willie Whitfield, Robert Whitfield and Lee Cooper and her cousin, Donquella Reid-Singh.

Tiara affectionately called “TT” was raised in a loving family and brought so much joy upon her arrival.  At an early age, Tiara was taught about the love of Jesus Christ.  As the family followed her great-grandparents, Rosie and Jimmy Hicks, to St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Tiara became active in the church as a child and accepted Christ as her personal Savior and it was there that she was baptized under the leadership of the late Rev. Elbert Brown.  Upon visiting Ebenezer Baptist Church with her Parker family, she united with the Ebenezer Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Brian Clayborn and served there with her children until her passing.  She loved her new pastor and church family with all her heart.

Education was very important to Tiara and she always stressed this to her sons.  Tiara was formally educated in the Benton Harbor Area Schools and was a proud alumnus of the prestigious Creative Arts Academy, McCord Renaissance Magnet School of which she was a member of the concert and marching bands, cheerleading, volleyball and the National Junior Honor Society.   

In 2007, she graduated from thee Benton Harbor High School as a proud member of the Illustrious  Benton Harbor High School “Class of 2007”.  She was the class example of love and will forever be remembered by her classmates for her beautiful smile and being one of the “nice cheerleaders” whose kicks were higher than her jumps and this, she also did, with a beautiful smile and Tiger Pride. 

On December 20, 2012, Tiara graduated from Brown Mackie College Nursing Program as a Licensed Practical Nurse and for 12 years, she was employed at Royalton Manor Nursing Home in St. Joseph, Michigan, as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) on the Memory Care Unit and was loved and adored by both the staff and her clients.  Her patience and kindness allowed her to garner special relationships with patients and their families.  One of her patients nicknamed her “Lollipop” because she said Tiara was always so bright, colorful and beautiful when she entered her room.    

Tiara will forever be remembered as one of the best “Boy-Moms” ever.  Marteze Jr., Major and Maison were always her number one priority and she made sure that they had a loving and nurturing relationship with her because she was the epitome of true motherhood.  They were her life and she made sure that they knew it.

Tiara was truly loved by all who met and knew her.  She was kind-hearted, loving, sweet, funny and loyal to those she loved.  She enjoyed life to the fullest and was the most amazing mother ever.  The love and special relationship that she had for her little sisters “Fe” and “Ty” was unbreakable and everlasting and that love for her big brothers and sister, Nell, Misi and Shona, her dad, Bear, her mother Karen, and the entire Reid and Whitfield families will forever be etched in their hearts.  Tiara, our beloved baby girl, you will truly be missed.      

She will forever be remembered in the hearts of her (3) loving and amazing sons, Martez Williams Jr., Major Williams and Maison Williams; her mother, Karen Reid of Benton Harbor, her father, Tony Whitfield of Benton Harbor, (8) sisters, Osheaona Reid, Felecia Reid, Tyeesha Reid, Rae’Vin Whitfield, Tamyla Whitfield, KeLe Whitfield, Noelle Whitfield and Alexis Johnson; (6) `brothers, Pernell (Kawanna) Reid, Khamisi (Jessica) Reid, Tyler Blazier, Tony Whitfield Jr., Jayden Johnson and Nahzir Bonds; the father of her 3 amazing sons, Marteze “Pete” Williams Sr.;  (2) aunts, Thelmela Booth and Tracy Birmingham; (5) uncles, Marquis “Spanky” Reid, John Whitfield, Mickey Booth, Melvin Booth and Charles Moore Jr.; paternal grandmother, Carolyn Booth; beloved great-grandmother, Rosie Hicks; (4) great-aunts, Kitty Sue Jackson, Crystal Reid, Rita Glass and Rose Ann Cooper, (5) great-uncles, Jessie Whitfield, James Cooper Jr., Larry Cooper, Jackie Cooper and Dennis Cooper; (2) great-great aunts, Mary Williams and Emma Hull; (1) great-great uncle, David Coffey; special cousins, Tammicia (Vincent) Wiggins, Khristopher Reid, Darryl “Tre” Cannon, JaSheika Glass, Marquis Reid Jr., Lil Misi, Jessica Napier and Sheyla Tripplett; some of her dearest and special friends and family, Kendra Williams, Alexandria “NeNe” Parker, Quwanetta Anthony, Jaida Hilliard, Markia Cannon, ApreSha Ward, Shantia Stubbs, Angel Williams, Keisha Hampton, Ben Varrie, Tiesha Breham and Tyresha Jones and a host of loving cousins, classmates, family members and friends.

 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39

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