Karrie Tawana Kersey was born on February 7, 1971, to Claudia Gevoda Kersey and the late Garfield Peter Kersey in Philadelphia, PA. Born two decades after her older brother, Ronnie, and sister, Toni, she was the baby of the family and was loved as such. Their father passed away when Karrie was a small child, but she was the "apple of his eye" and it was through him that the family began calling her by her middle name, Tawana. Despite the large age gap from her natural siblings, Tawana did not grow up without childhood siblings and was raised closely with her younger nieces, Kisha and Ayanna. They shared many happy moments together as children playing, singing and writing music together. Above all, Tawana was raised in a household anchored in faith and the love of God. She grew up in the Baptist tradition and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age.

Tawana was an exuberant, intelligent and talented child. She attended Greene Street Friends Elementary school (where she thrived and excelled) and also Martin Luther King High School in West Oak Lane, Philadelphia. As a child and teenager, she was involved in activities that nurtured her many talents. She was a classically trained pianist and began singing in church at an early age. While she also experimented with other instruments such as cello and clarinet, her primary instruments were piano and voice. She loved to sing and often participated in competitions and showcases with other up and coming artists in the city of Philadelphia, where she began to cultivate a reputation for her talent. Under the tutelage of community activist and entrepreneur, Gladys Meade, she along with her niece, Ayanna, began modeling in local fashion shows for organizations, such as the Urban League. It was an activity that they enjoyed doing together. As a young adult, she used this experience to

work as a model for advertisement and print work for local businesses. After high school, Tawana attended cosmetology school to become a hairstylist. She had a particular love for natural hair styling and braiding. She also worked as a choir director and pianist for several churches.

Tawana loved her family and maintained especially close relationships with her mother; her elder sister, Toni; and her Aunt Everdine. Along with her niece, Ayanna, these women were sources of unconditional love and support despite any challenges she faced. She also truly loved her nieces and nephews. Upon learning that she was battling Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, Tawana was most concerned with leaving a legacy for her great nephews and nieces so that they would intimately know who she was and what she tried to contribute to the world. She said "I just want to spend my final days singing and writing my story so they will know me."

In the later years of her life, Tawana re-dedicated herself to her faith through Jesus Christ and joined Mount Airy Church of God in Christ. Her faith was a sustaining force for her, and she found solace in it during her health challenges at the end of her life. Karrie, as she preferred to be called, peacefully and painlessly transitioned from her earthly life on January 20, 2025. She was preceded in death by her father, Garfield Peter Kersey; brother, Tyrone "Ronnie" Garfield Kersey; aunt, Trivilla Kris Hancock (uncle George); Uncle Richard "C.J." Williams; great- nephew, Nyheim Walker; and nephew-in-law, Richard Walker. She leaves to mourn and remember her: Mother, Claudia Gevoda Kersey; sister, Antoinette "Toni" Kersey, half-brother, Harold Kersey (Taneesha), Niece, Kisha Kersey-Walker (Maurice, A'shalay, Nason), and great-great nieces and nephews); Dr. Ayanna S. Kersey-McMullen (Oronde, Che, Luke, and Asa); aunt, Everdine Williams aunt, Theresa Huntley and a host of very much loved cousins, "village family", and church community.