Obituary of Shana Antoinette Blair
Shana Antoinette Blair was born on July 11, 1984 to Roy and Leonie Blair at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield, NJ. Shana, age 37 (fondly known as Sha-Boogie, Shana Bana, S-Dot, or Shana Doe), passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ.
Shana began her education at King’s Daughters Day School and continued in the Plainfield Public Schools system, attending Jefferson Elementary School, Evergreen Elementary School, Hubbard Middle School, and Plainfield High School. She graduated from Plainfield High School, earning her High School Diploma in June 2002. Shana furthered her education at Winston Salem-State University, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, in 2006, followed by her Master’s in Business Administration in Human Resource Management, from Walden University, in 2012.
Shana had a prodigious work ethic. She started her professional career at Saint Clare’s Health System, as a Behavioral Health Counselor. With determination and hard work, and after earning her MBA, she went on to pursue a career in human resource management with various roles of increasing responsibilities in the Orange Township Board of Education and Teaneck Board of Education. Shana was also a licensed Notary Public, and a certified member of the National Notary Association and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP).
Shana was an outstanding member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, in Plainfield, NJ. She grew up in the church to become a woman of great faith, climbing the ranks, moving from member to a Lay Episcopal Minister (LEM), assisting the priest at the alter during services. She was also involved with Sunday School and children and youth’s choirs.
Shana had many passions in life but was most passionate about her family and friends! Family was EVERYTHING to Shana and everyone was FAMILY (her friends were extended FAMILY). She was instrumental in establishing the Ms. Mack’s Grandkids’ network of cousins to get acquainted and remain connected and coordinating the Christmas Onesie Pajama gala. She was an amazing, freelance, professional make-up artist. Shana enjoyed cooking and specialized in her favorite Jamaican cuisines. She loved and celebrated life through her numerous travels around the world and through her love of music – especially, Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z and Beres Hammond, and so much more. She lived her best life! Shana was very generous with her time and love, a very forgiving and nurturing spirit, and made everyone she encountered feel special and important.
There is and was no one like Shana Antoinette Blair. She was a truly, exceptional person in her ability to touch so many people, in so few years on this earth….and she will be missed dearly.
Shana, you are our shining star, always and forever. You lit up every room and every heart.
Shana leaves many to cherish her memory: her mother – Leonie Blair, her father – Roy Blair; two maternal sisters – Aneka Miller (spouse: Clinton) and Tricia Brathwaite (spouse: Courtney); one paternal sister – Marcia Kirkland; two paternal brothers – Paul Blair (spouse: Dianna) and Michael Blair; two Godmothers – Barbara Hohn and Veronica Clark; two Godfathers – Michael Hohn and Hugo Douglas; many Godsisters, including – Chrysanthe Newton, Ashley Eddy and Tanisha Montgomery; many Godbrothers, including – Kevin Hohn, Craig Eddy, and Tyshan Douglas; five maternal aunts – Esmie Matthews-Barnett, Linda Thomas, Joyce Thomas-Whittle, Syble Bailey-Williams, and Estella Williams; honorary aunt – Marcia Eddy; two maternal uncles – Cecil Bailey and Carlton Bryan; one paternal uncle – George Blair; five nephews – Navar Blair, Saadiq Brathwaite, Jalen Brathwaite, Ari DJ Miller, and Juvon Blair; nine nieces – Deandrea Blair, Shanique Blair, Andrenne Blair, Melissan Blair, Angel Blair, Daneja Kirkland, Leeandrea Kirkland, Enikah Miller, and Kaira Brathwaite; six Godchildren – Semaj, Ari, Aiden, Payton, Isaiah, and Charles, Jr., and a host of cousins and friends.
Shana was preceded in death by her maternal aunts– Pauline Allen and Phyllis Bryan; maternal uncle – Everton Bailey; two first cousins – Claudine Bryan and Cleon Williams; and her Godsister – Antoinette Senior.
In lieu of flowers to the family, please donate in the memory of Shana A. Blair via https://donate.metavivor.org/ShanaStrong.
The family kindly request that all guests be tested for COVID to ensure negative status and wear a mask for the memorial service at St. Marks Episcopal Church on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at 11:00 am.
