Shaniqua "Nicci" Lajae Taylor

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5.

On April 18, 2025, God called home one of his brightest angels. Shaniqua Lajae Taylor, affectionately known as “Nicci,” was born January 13, 1978, in Charleston, West Virginia, to the late Shirley Jackson Willis and Elder Ronald Wayne Willis.

While growing up in West Virginia, Shaniqua played basketball and volleyball at South Charleston High School and participated in a performing arts group called STARS. She would go on to tell her children that her experiences advocating and performing with the group were the turning points in her life that made her realize that she wanted to make a difference in the world. 

In 1997, Shaniqua graduated from South Charleston High School in West Virginia. 

She graduated from the Charleston School of Beauty Culture in 2002 and received her cosmetology certification. With her talents, she served her family, friends, and members of her community. Lastly, she attended Everest College, where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Medical Assistance.

On May 12, 2005, she was united in Holy Matrimony with Vernon D. Taylor Jr. In this union, they were blessed with twenty-nine years of happiness, three children, and one handsome grandson referred to as her “Tinker Butter.” As a supportive Army spouse, she was the head of the household, keeping everything together in Virginia while her husband was stationed at Ft. Lee and Ft. Eustis, in North Carolina while stationed at Ft. Bragg, and in Maryland while assigned to the Pentagon. She didn’t want to be far from her family, so they made North Carolina their home. 

Many knew Shaniqua as empowering, spiritual, nurturing, fun-loving, ambitious, supportive, motivational, and, most importantly, a force to be reckoned with. One thing she took pride in was being a jack of all trades. To name a few: a nurse, hairstylist, nail technician, interior designer, therapist, fashion stylist, motivational speaker, and the list goes on. She was truly the DIY Queen. She could do anything she put her mind to, and if not, she would always find a way; in her words, “Google and YouTube are free.”

Shaniqua was preceded in death by her beloved family dog Sasha Fluffy Taylor, who passed away on April 16, 2025. 

Shaniqua leaves to cherish her precious memories her husband, MAJ (R) Vernon D. Taylor Jr.; three children, Da’Naijah Taylor, Dan’Valique Taylor, and Kei’Liah Taylor (David Darrow); grandson Javier Darrow; bonus child A’Mya Taylor; three sisters, Ronette Barrett (Christian), Ebony King (Wallace), and Monica Kessel (Chris); mother-in-law Cynthia Taylor; brother-in-law Andrew Welsh; two sisters-in-law, LaKeisha Vines (Chris) and Rhoshanda Taylor; and a host of many loving godchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, her Novae family, Queens In Prayer, other caring relatives, and friends.

She will leave behind the legacy of all of her extraordinary feats and how she impacted the lives and hearts of many. 

A service to celebrate her life will be held at Noon on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Bethel Restoration Center. Mrs. Taylor may be viewed on Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Bethel Restoration Center.  

Professional services have been entrusted to the staff of Whiting's Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com

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