DENAYA SHONELLE CRAFT

AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS "NELL-E; BOO-BOO; NAYA BABY; SHONELLE AND SALLY JANE", WAS BORN JULY 8, 1994 IN DAYTON, OHIO TO DION CRAFT AND THE LATE DEANNA M. SCOTT CRAFT. SHE ATTENDED DAYTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WAS A 2012 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OF LIFE SKILLS EDUCATIONAL CENTER, SHE CONTINUED HER EDUCATION AT SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND PENN FOSTER FOR VET TECH CERTIFICATION.

DENAYA'S EMPLOYMENT HISTORY INCLUDED MCDONALD'S AND WENDY'S; LINE SUPERVISOR; MIAMI VALLEY HOSPITAL SOUTH; IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CARESOURCE, AS A BENEFITS COORDINATOR.

DENAYA WAS BAPTIZED AT A YOUNG AGE AT THE OMEGA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE SHE WAS ACTIVE IN VARIOUS YOUTH, TEEN AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES. SHE ENJOYED ENTERTAINING, DANCING, COOKING, SINGING AND ALWAYS HAD THE DESIRE TO FOLLOW IN HER MOTHER'S FOOTSTEPS WITH SINGING AND RECORDING. MUSIC WAS HER LOVE LANGUAGE. DE'NAYA HAD A BUBBLY PERSONALITY THAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALIKE, AS "EXTRA". SHE WAS A LOVING, CARING MOTHER TO HER SON, KAYDEN WHOM SHE ADORED. DE'NAYA LOVED AND CHERISHED HER FATHER DION, MS. LETIA, MAMMAW PAT, GRANNY J-BIRD AND THE ONE WHO STOLE HER HEART, TONY, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. HER LIFE WAS A TAPESTRY OF LOVE, UNCERTAINTY, PERSONAL STRUGGLES AND PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

ON SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026 AT THE AGE OF 31, SHE TRANSITIONED INTO PEACEFUL REST IN GOD'S LOVING ARMS. SHE IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER MOTHER, DEANNA SCOTT CRAFT, GRANDPARENTS WILLIAM AND MARY CRAFT, EARL AND ALENE GOODALL AND MRS. GENEVA "NANA" ALDRIDGE.

SHE LEAVES TO CHERISH HER PRECIOUS MEMORY, HER ADORED SON, KAYDEN CRAFT, FATHER DION (LETIA); SISTER BRYANA BENTLEY AND SON BRAYLEN MOREHEAD; BROTHERS: DEONTE' (JIMINA) CRAFT; KAVON ARMOUR, SPIRITUAL GOD MOTHER, MINISTER DANA BOGGS; HER BELOVED PARTNER, TONY WHITFIELD-WARREN; GRANDPARENTS PATRICIA SCOTT; RUBY (MARVIN) SMITH; WILLIAM (PEGGY) CRAFT; AUNTS COURTNEY (DENZELL) LYLES-SCOTT, ANGELINA WILLIAMS; NIKKI (CHRIS) WINGFIELD; TANIKA (MARVIN) HYLER; LINDA BUCEY; PHYLLIS HAYES; ROBIN BELL; MARCIA (LYNN) GRAY; CHERYL (MICHAEL) WILLIAMS; UNCLES KEVIN BUCEY; DURRELL CRAFT; BRANDON (NATALIE) SMITH; COUSIN KALA WILLIAMS AND SONS AND A HOST OF OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS.