Shayla Renee Harris

Shayla's Life Story
Shayla Renee Harris, was born on February 23, 1986, to Angel Luis Guzman and Angelique Deloris Harris in Dover, Delaware. She was also known to her friends and relatives as "Shay" or "Sha-Sha". Shayla went home to be with the Lord on December 10, 2023.
At an early age, Shayla and her family lived with her Pop-pop Phillip and Mom-mom Dorie in Camden, Delaware and at age 5 ½, she went to Michigan with her great-aunt Top (Elizabeth) as her escort. Shayla arrived at her great-aunt Wilma's (now known as Mom) with a suitcase twice her size, stuffed to the max, ready to begin her Michigan life.
Having completed her preschool and Head Start programs in Dover, Shayla enrolled at MacArthur Elementary School of Southfield Public Schools to begin her kindergarten year. She would complete the early elementary phase of her education there. From that year in kindergarten, Shayla forged strong and lasting friendships with her classmates that still exist to this day. Shayla's love for music got its foundation from her listening to the oldies with her pop-pop. In the fifth grade, Shayla chose the trumpet as her instrument for the school band because she wanted to play "jazz trumpet". With much trepidation, she managed to push through to the end of the year and performed in the end-of-the-year concert. Having said that, the end of the school ended the "jazz trumpet" phase of her music career. In middle school, Shayla's music interests took a new turn and she focused on the stringed instruments. In the fall of sixth grade, she was asked if she wanted to play the violin, and she said "No". She explained that she had said no because she did not want to hear, "Eek, eek, eek," all the time. Inside my head, I am thanking the good Lord above for her reasoning because secretly, I did not want to hear, "Eek, eek, eek," all the time either. So, she found her passion in the cello. After three days of strings class, Shayla brought the school's cello home on the bus (unbeknownst to me). I prayed that no damage had occurred to it on the bus ride home. That Friday evening, she played her repertoire of three songs and much to my surprise and heart-bursting pride, she played with great skill and expertise. She played like she was born with the cello in her hands. In high school, she played first chair in the orchestra after the seniors had graduated. This gave her self-esteem and pride a gigantic boost. A star is born!
Shayla also loved the marching band. In middle school, Shayla played the bass drum and cymbals, and in high school, she continued with the cymbals. She continued to participate in both the orchestra and marching band throughout middle and high school.
Shayla returned to Delaware and worked at several jobs. She especially loved working as a toll collector for the Department of Transportation; she was excited to be working for the State of Delaware. She also did volunteer work and fundraising drives with (social group) Blessings in Disguize SBC/SC to provide school supplies for underprivileged children.
Shayla loved her children and she diligently worked to prepare them for preschool and kindergarten. She enjoyed working with them on learning their ABCs, numbers, colors, and shapes. She would drive them to different places such as petting zoos or the Baltimore Harbor Aquarium to further enhance their learning experiences. She felt that they could learn while they had fun and while doing things they enjoyed. Shayla enjoyed reading stories to her children at bedtime as well as any other time during the day. It gave each of them that extra cuddle time with her as they formed those extra memories and bonds with her. Shayla was exceptionally proud of her little guy, Sakai. He was her youngest child who could say his ABC's, recognize and name them in random order, count to 10 and name his colors and shapes, all before the age of two. Shayla's video of him at about 20 months old holding the big, foam letters, saying each of their names and giving the sound that each letter made is priceless. She hoped that he would play the cello as she did, but if he were to choose any other instrument, she would have been fine with that, too.
Shayla was preceded in death by her grandfather, Benjamin Phillip Harris "Pop-pop"; an uncle, Gordon Harris; her great-grandparents, William W. Harris, Sr. and Beatrice Harris; a great uncle, William W. Harris, Jr.; two great aunts, Elizabeth Harris Henry and Mildred Harris Sewell.
Shayla leaves to mourn her children, Miracle Conde of Milford, DE, Nahzir Parker of Hawaii and Sakai P. Harris of Dover, DE; her mom, Wilma Chapman of Wixom, MI; two sisters, Shaqueta Collins and Kasiah Harris, of Dover, DE; two brothers, Antonio and Angel Guzman of Dover, DE; two grandmothers, Salvadora Harris "Mom-mom Dorie" of Smyrna DE and Norma Jean Hayes of Powder Springs, GA; two aunts, Bridget Harris of Dover, DE and Deidre Harris of Powser Springs, GA; two uncles, Wesley Harris of Dover, DE and Homer Readores of Dover, DE; a great-aunt, Geraldine Harris Lee of Dover, DE; great uncle, Daryl Harris, Sr, of Dover, DE; a cherished cousin, Sharnet Summers of Dover, DE; a dear friend, Amber Daniels of Dover, DE; her god-parents, Samuel and Loretta Daniels of Dover, DE; her biological parents, Angelique Harris and Angel Guzman of Dover, DE; and a host of cousins, relatives, and friends.
Lovingly submitted, The Chapman and Harris Family.
5
Jan
11:00 AM
Sharon Hill Memorial Park Cemetery 2928 Sharon Hill Rd. Dover, DE 19904
30
Dec
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Bennie Smith Funeral Home of Delaware (Dover) 717 W Division Street Dover, DE 19904
30
Dec
12:00 PM
Bennie Smith Funeral Home of Delaware (Dover) 717 W Division Street Dover, DE 19904