SHANIKKA RENEE' ZELLARS (AGE 26) OF CLINTON, MARYLAND

On Friday, September 29, 1989 a beautiful baby girl was born to Steven Anthony and Regina Faye Drake-Zellars. They named her Shanikka Renee' Zellars. On Sunday, September 25, 2016 at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, Shanikka Renee' peacefully transitioned from this earthly life to one eternal.

Shanikka was educated in the Prince George's County School system and graduated from Surrattsville High in Clinton, Maryland. She furthered her education at Morgan State University.

Shanikka received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and attended First Baptist Church of Glenarden and later the Church of the Great Commission. She was raised in church and learned at an early age how to hear from and communicate with God.

Her occupation was in Culinary Arts and she was employed with various restaurants to include; McCormick and Schmick's and The Olive Garden. She was also Host/Door Manager (for DJ Lady D) at the Elks Lodge in Camp Springs, Maryland, and provided childcare services to family and friends. She loved singing, dancing and music and was passionate about racial equality and social injustice. She enjoyed reality shows, going out with close friends, traveling, celebrating with family, attending family reunions, birthdays and other family functions. When she was younger she enjoyed skating, going to the movies, going to the park and shopping. Some collectible items that you could associate her with were sunglasses, floppy hats, maxi dresses, leggings, rompers, dolphins, cars, wine glasses and pictures. She was a member of the Dramatic Disciple Mime Ministry, Church of the Great Commission Dance Ministry, Cheerleader for Trinity All-Stars and Sister Circle Morgan State University. During her later years she enjoyed reading, cooking and listening to many of her favorite recording artist including Stevie Wonder. Shanikka always gave words of encouragement and wisdom to her friends and others whenever needed. She was a very independent individual and was successful in many endeavors receiving countless awards including getting her driver's license. Shanikka was a classy, smiling young lady with great leadership abilities. She was very direct in her communications skills. She was honest, strong-willed, fun, caring, a good listener, adventurous and knowledgeable. She was most proud of and loved her intimate relationship with her mother, especially during the last couple of years and also her relationship with others around her accomplishments and successes. She was very health conscious regarding eating, drinking, exercising and having a totally healthy lifestyle. The message she would want to pass on to future generations is the necessity of maintaining good health habits and caring for one's body. Shanikka would like to be remembered as a "Fighter" who never gave up.

Shanikka was preceded in death by her father, Steven Anthony Zellars, grandparents: Joseph and Evelyn Zellars; Robert Drake,Jr. and Ersenia L. Drake and her dog, Brandi.

Shanikka leaves to cherish many precious memories her mother, Regina Drake-Zellars, grandmother Evelyn Patricia Harris Zellars, aunts Deborah Drake Garner (DJ Lady D), Rhonda Drake Jones (Prince), Nellie Drake, Jacqueline Drake, Cheryl Jo and Rebecca Martin Zellars, uncles, Alvin Glenn Drake, Gerald Drake (Felicia) and Eric Gaylan, cousins, Kiya Downs (Paul), Kori Gardner, RaShauna Drake, Jovae' and Jaya Jones, Jeremiah and Jordan Drake, Kaylen Gardner, Elijah and Paul Downs, Jr., foster siblings, godparents, Ronald (Ora) and Debbie Thompson, god-brothers, Donzell Layton and Charleston Pinkney,honorary grandmothers Joy Good and Christine Heart special girlfriends, Jessica Kelly and Cora Brinkley, special long-time friend, Redman Walley and a host of other family members and friends.

Viewing, Thursday, October 6, 2016, 10:00 am until time of service, 11:00 am, 1st Baptist Church of Glenarden, 3600 Brightseat Road, Hyattsville, MD 20785. Interment, Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 4001 Suitland Road, Suitland, Maryland 20746.