Tashieka Davis - A Treasure Lost from Classical High School

It was an sad and upsetting surprise for many teachers and students to hear of the passing of Tashieka Davis, Class of 2007, in a car accident last week. Her Aunt Mattie Guy, and a Classical graduate, also lost her life in the accident.

Tashieka was an involved student over the past four years. Her interests were wide and varied. Tashieka was President of JBSG, a member of the Student Council, Homecoming and Prom Queen, an outstanding art student at Raw Arts , a member of the ITM Dance Team,  a Youth Counselor at the YMCA,  and much more. She was voted Most Artistic Student by her Senior Class.

Tashieka is remembered by students for her overwhelming friendliness, her bubbly personality, her wonderful smile, and her inner beauty.

She is  remembered fondly by the faculty and staff. She sent a Thank You letter to the faculty before graduation, noting the contribution each of her teachers had made to her personal progress. Tashieka mentioned her future plans of  becoming a teacher.

Her funeral took place  Friday, January 5th, at 9:00am at the Mount Olive Church, 20 Johnson Street, Lynn. Hundreds of friends, classmates and teachers were in attendance.

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Lynn Woman and Aunt Killed in Atlanta Crash                Photo by Reba Saldana

By David Liscio / The Daily Item, 1/3/08                        
                                                                                                      Tashieka Davis' cousin, Natiya Guy, adds a rock a                                                                                                    to a memorial for her deceased relative at RAW Arts 

LYNN - An artistic Lynn teenager and her aunt were tragically killed Dec. 27 in an automobile collision near Atlanta.
Tashieka Davis, 18, and her aunt, Mattie M. Guy, 47, both of Lynn, died when their car collided with another vehicle on a foggy highway. The driver of the second car, 39-year-old Joe Sparks, was injured. Davis was scheduled to begin studies at North Shore Community College in two weeks.

"She hadn't seen her mother in nearly four years, so she went down to Atlanta with her aunt," said Mary Flannery, founder of RAW Art Works, a Lynn-based program for at-risk youth where Davis found roots and blossomed as an artist. "It's tragic. She was an amazing person who was doing some amazing things."
Flannery said Davis was a gifted artist who ascended through the RAW program, ultimately showing her leadership abilities by achieving the rank of RAW Chief. The young woman was passionate about sculpture and painting, and for five years was a member of In the Making or ITM, a Lynn-based step dance troupe that won many competitions.

A Classical High School graduate and prom queen, Davis lived on Summer Street in Lynn with other relatives.
Guy was daughter of James Guy, pastor of the Mount Olive Church on Johnson Street in Lynn.
"The minister will be burying his daughter and his granddaughter in the same day," said Flannery. "That's a tough one."

A wake service will be held at the church on Friday from 9-10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral and burial in Pine Grove Cemetery, according to Michael Gomes, among the cousins with whom Davis lived.

Georgia State Police said the collision occurred about three miles north of Midway, in Bullock County, at approximately 4:50 p.m. Guy was driving. All three people involved in the accident were wearing seatbelts. The wreck remains under investigation. Authorities said it appears Sparks' vehicle struck the car driven by Guy, pushing it off the road.

Davis was the daughter of Lynn native Theresa Guy, who moved to Atlanta about 10 years ago, and Peter Davis of Boston. She leaves two sisters, Marie Guy of Alabama and Cali Guy of Atlanta.

Students at RAW Art Works on Wednesday held a candlelight memorial service for Davis to celebrate her life and artistic achievements. Attendees passed out lip balm emblazoned with her image.  "She always wore Chap Stick - never went anywhere without it - so we made some up in her honor," said Jason Cruz, a RAW staff member.

Tashieka is survived by her father Peter Davis of Everett, her mother Theresa Guy of Atlanta, GA, and her step mother Portia Davis of Everett, two sisters Marie Robinson of Midway, AL and Callie Guy of Atlanta, GA, two step brothers Sayquan and Jayquan of Everett, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Davis family, c/o Goodrich Funeral Home, 128 Washington St., Lynn 01902.

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