Sonya Latrice Collier

July.16.1984 ~ June.28.2023

Life Story

"The Creative One"

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sonya Latrice Collier; I invite you to take a voyage with me through my life story...

Family and friends who know me would tell you that I am very creative and love bright, brilliant, and vibrant colors.

I love to sing; unicorns are my favorite mystical creature, and if it's glitter, I'm all over it, or it's all over me.

I was born on the 198th day of the year 1984. It was a Monday, July.16, in Littlerock, AR. My parents are my true heroes. Annette Collier and Calvin Boles Collier. They named me Sonya, which means "wisdom."

Momma and Daddy had four daughters, and I was number three. The significance of this is the number 3 represents harmony, wisdom, and understanding. I have three sisters that are all these things too. Do you see, I'm the third child, yet I have three sisters; Shontae, the oldest, harmonizes this like no other she has a beautiful voice I most like her. She and I would perform concerts with our dad in the living room to that old Motown sound, and it was beautiful to hear and see. Antoinette, number two, understood me the best. In using our imaginations, she and I created an alternative universe when we were children where we would play, and we created our own language, shopping center, and even our names, Nina and Sammy. Still, there was Salynthia. She's the baby, and because she has both mommy and daddy and three older sisters, she's full of wisdom. As the baby, we all doted over her, made sure she wanted for nothing and took care of her in many ways we were like sisters and moms to her. Our family is full of love. We enjoyed having fun, and, furthermost of all, we relished one another.

Some would say I was mischievous, whenever I wanted to get back at my older two sisters, I would hide just one of their good shoes that they would wear to church or to school and I would not divulge where that shoe was to anyone. However, my daddy was always able to get me to tell him where the shoe was yes, I was a daddy's girl. There were times because my fingernails were so hard and long that I may have scratched my sister's removing their skin nevertheless, it was out of love. Our family arrived in Denver, CO, on July 4th of 1992. This was a big year for our family from Little Rock, AR. Bill Clinton, the governor of Arkansas, became the president of the United States, and HBO released a miniseries, "Bangin' in the '90s in Littlerock". I picked up three more sisters. YaKisha A. Jones, Shayna Royston and Ranisha Mckinnies. I first met Keisha shortly after we moved to Colorado. There were times we were having problems. It proved to be a lifetime relationship of sisterhood me and Ranisha were schoolhouse friends who never lost track of each other. Now Shayna, this girl has been around since I thought I was grown. You didn't see me without Shayna or Shayna without me. Shayna came around so much that she became another sister just as the family had already adopted Keisha as one of the daughters. Ironically, Shayna's daughter and I share the same birthday.

There was nothing I loved in this life more than my journey of motherhood. My two sons were The LOVES of my life.

Latrell White and Xzavier Collier. Although Xzavier was taken from me violently at 14, my love and his

will resonate through all eternity.

I was even married for a short while; we tattooed each other's faces on our arms; it was cute to us, others not as much. Still, we were in love, and that's how we decided to display it.

Growing up, we had a special relationship with God. I was baptized at a young age in Little Rock Arkansas.

I attended George Washington High school and CLA in Denver, Colorado. I choose to work in the nursing field and spent my time caring for the elderly in my adult years became a Certified Nursing Assistant. I loved helping people.

I love to read. Some of my favorite books were the Sister Souljah series. I love reading and spending time with my family so much were about to start a book club.

I like soul food, hip-hop music, and anything with a lot of bass. And yet this is just a panoramic view of my life.

Wednesday, June 28, was the 179th day of the year 2023. On this day, I reunited with my baby boy Xzavier.

Moreover, I leave to honor my memories. My Son Latrell White, Mom, Annette Collier, and Dad Calvin Boles Collier. My sisters Shontae Denise Collier, Antoinette Collier, Salynthia  Renee Russell. My sisters/friends Kisha, Shayna and Ranisha. My nephews DaSean Maurice Edwards Jr, Drashaun Arion-Collier Jones, Taeshaun Anthony Collier-Banks, Jee Robert Russell. My nieces Aalayah TaeLynn Collier, Sara Michelle Chaney, Lyric Deandre Cooper my only living grandparent my grandmother Lennal Joyner and a host of cousins, aunts and uncles