Kenya Tanasha Tillery, "Ms. Maestro," was born January 28, 1972. She departed this life to sing in God's celestial choir on March 7, 2008. She was born in Williamston, NC to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Delano and Mary Katherine Tillery. She spent her formative years in Winston-Salem, NC and attended the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

Early on, Kenya developed a love for music that would resonate throughout her life. As a child, she spoke of "hearing music in her head" and she made it her life's ambition to not only capture that music, but to share it and allow it to inspire countless others.

She shared her passion for music with students at UNC Wilmington, Warsaw Middle School, Diggs Elementary School in Winston-Salem, and The Piano Play in Sherman Oaks, California.

She was preceded in death by her father.

Kenya leaves to cherish her memory her mother, Mary Tillery of Winston-Salem, NC; grandmothers, Lenora Frederick of Warsaw, NC and Mary D. Tillery of Wilson, NC; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 pm Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor, Helen Robinson officiating. Family visitation will be held from 12 Noon until 1pm Wednesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to the National Foundation for Cancer Research.