Erica Natanya (Tanya) Hawthorne departed this life on October 5, 2024, at her home in Newark, New Jersey. Tanya was born on September 2, 1975 to Sherida J. Hawthorne of Spotsylvania County and the late, Joseph N. Hawthorne, Sr.

Tanya became a member of the Second New Hope Baptist Church in Spotsylvania at an early age. She served as a youth usher and was a member of the Little People's choir.

Tanya was educated in the Spotsylvania County Public Schools. She was an avid reader and in her earlier years had to be frequently told to put down a book to go get on the school bus, come to dinner or move on to some other event. She was an excellent softball player, playing on the Courtland High School team and a local recreational softball team that won a state softball championship in 1989. The team was runner-up the next year and Tanya received the tournament MVP award for her prowess at first base.

Tanya went on to earn a Bachelor of Communications degree from Howard University in Washington, DC. She moved to California and began honing her skills in online and digital communications. Over the years she became a respected professional in her field, a skilled blogger, podcaster and a world traveler. Most recently, she worked in the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry. She was passionate about several social and political issues and was a strong advocate for the causes she believed in. She was also a mentor to several colleagues. She loved to travel, becoming a frequent flyer, visiting the Caribbeans or Africa or Europe on a regular basis, often with two or more children in tow. She gave them the opportunity to see several different countries and cultures early in their lives. She was also an amazing cook!

Tanya leaves cherished memories for her companion Reggie Lamont Grant of Washington, DC; her bonus children, D'Angelo Yates, Kyah Campbell, and glam child Bella, Demaine Campbell, Kevon Campbell, and glam child Kaniyah, all of Washington, DC; her mother, Sherida Hawthorne of Spotsylvania, VA; two sisters, Alicia Brown and Tracy Hawthorne of Spotsylvania, VA; one brother, Joseph N. Hawthorne, Jr. (Asha) of Washington, DC; one god sister, Rosita Tapscott of Nottingham, MD; two nieces, Tajsha Hawthorne and Tiana Brown of Spotsylvania, VA; three nephews, Jaekwon Hawthorne, Raymond Brown, and Donte Hawthorne, all of Spotsylvania, VA; one great niece, Aveah James; two great nephews, Zayden Frye and Kingston Hawthorne, all of Spotsylvania, VA; several aunts, uncles, cousins; and a host of other relatives, and friends.

A visitation will be held at Salem Fields Community Church, 11120 Gordon Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407, on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 1:00 PM followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:00 PM. The family requests that any expressions of sympathy be made in the form of contributions to https://alp.org/ , https://collectivepac.org/ or https://www.browngirlsdream.org/ in her honor.

The family is grateful for all the love, prayers, and other forms of comfort given during this time. Special thanks to the staff of A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home of Fredericksburg, VA and Salem Fields Community Church in Spotsylvania, VA.