Nautika Lewis

Nautika Unique Lewis, 20, of Chattanooga, transitioned on Sunday, November 15, 2020 in a local hospital. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Leo and Debrorah Lewis; great- grandparents, Amos and Katie Naylor; her aunt, Larinder “KK” Lewis; and step-grandmother, Linda Robinson. Nautika leaves to cherish her memories, loving mother, Zapouria Lewis; stepfather, Willie Brown; sisters, Zalandria Gearing and Danielle Dillard; and brother, SirChance Brown, great-aunt, Diane Naylor Watts; special aunt, PaLata Lewis and uncles, Dale Bragg and Dale Brown; special cousin, Dr. Charhonda (Cecil) Noble-Jackson of Lithonia, GA along with her cousins, Paigley Lewis, Xgabriel Lewis, Isaiah Lewis, and Isaiah Lewis Jr., Daiques Lewis, Titus Lewis, and Madison Noble, Mackenzie Jackson, Myles Jackson of Lithonia, GA; and special cousin, Rekayla McCorkle and A’mara High, Joseph Blackmon and Jakita Blackmon; special grandmother, Ann Burney; God-mothers, Kia Allen, Candace Howard, LaTonya (Heath) Bethune, and Rolica Watkins of Atlanta, GA; God-aunts, Yemeya Green, Bakeisha Graham, and Brooke (William) Graham; special uncles, James Massengil, Alvin Massengil, and Raymond Stargin, III; God-brothers, Cordell Howard, Xavier Baugh and Jae’Son Wade; God-sisters, DaLayia and MyAngel Bethune, both of Chattanooga, TN.

Nautika was diagnosed with Prader-Willie syndrome shortly after birth. Our Nauti never let her disability stop her from striving to be like everyone else. When she was told she could not do something she would say “I bet I can.” She was employed at Chatt Smoke House and always helped those in need and never felt sorry for herself. She enjoyed volunteering and taking walks with her mother and sister and spending time with her aunt PaLata. Nautika enjoyed taking care of babies and the elderly assisting in any way she could. Nauti enjoyed all music, but she especially loved gospel always singing off key. Nauti would often have singing and dancing contest with her sister Zalandria who she would leave to babysit her silicone babies.

We regret her passing but she lived her life to the end the way she always wanted to as an independent

woman. We as her family would like to stress wearing a mask due to Covid-19. It took Nautika at the age of 20. Covid-19 has no preference on race, age or disability. Special thanks to staff at Dawn School, Parkridge Mental Health, Parkridge Valley Hospital, Erlanger Behavior Health, Moccasin Bend, Dodson Health Center and Jerome Sherrod. Transition services will be held Wednesday @ 3 p.m. in the chapel of Taylor Funeral Home with Pastor Brian Allen as the eulogist.