Arnita Riley was born December 9, 1957, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania to the late James Walter Johnson and Helen Everette (Lewis). She was the youngest of eight (8) children: Willie James Lewis Sr., Anthony Lewis, Jean Midgett, Nona Young, Vanessa Lewis, Alexander Lewis and Videlure Johnson.

Arnita was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System. Arnita accepted and gave her life to Christ at a very young age. Arnita was a devout Christian.

Arnita met the love of her life Ronald Lewis Riley "Ram". They married September 25, 1999. She was overjoyed to have celebrated 25 years of marriage in 2024 with him.

Arnita was a woman of many talents and crafts. In Arnita's earlier years of life, she was a sewer, working at Somerset Knitting Mills. Arnita then moved on to nursing, her true love of taking care of people for many years. Because of Arnita's kind nature to people nursing became too much, as she took the passing of her clients very hard. She left the nursing field and became a beloved star tender at numerous Philadelphia bars, with her favorite and last one being Charley Bee's. As if that wasn't enough, Arnita went back to school for baking and obtained her baking credentials from Wilton. She found her true and ultimate passion in baking.

Arnita loved spending time with her husband, daughters, grandchildren and working the pols during high stake elections.

Arnita was preceded in death by her parents and two (2) brothers: Willie and Anthony.

Arnita leaves to cherish her loving memory: husband of 25 years Ronald; four (4) daughters, Tamika, Tysha & Toya Dixon and Pastor Monica Haskell (Bishop Matthew Haskell); nine (9) grandchildren: Melvin Dixon(Shanai), Maurice Tyler, Marquise Weekley, Brianna Melonson, Sadeem Wilson, Hira Wilson, Lauren Haskell, Shaun Morrison and Matthew Haskell III; five (5) great-grandchildren: Cianny Dixon, Malehah Dixon and Sa'lah Dixon, Masaad Dixon and ChristianDior Davies; five(5) siblings: Jean Midgett, Nona Young(Eugene), Vanessa Lewis, Alexander Lewis and Videlure Johnson; three (3) sisters-in-law: Marilyn Riley, Yvonne Brown and Brenda Hairston; two (2) brothers-in-law: Eugene Young and Elder Stanley Riley (Rosa) and a host of nieces, nephews, other beloved relatives and friends.

Sorrowfully submitted,

THE FAMILY OF ARNITA RILEY