Tonya Renee Brown, 52, of Ruskin, Florida, passed away June 25, 2010 from a diabetic episode resulting in a fatal car accident.
Tonya was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and the daughter of Richard W. Jones and Cora F. Forte and step daughter of Willie J. Forte . Born August 27, 1957, Tonya graduated from Withrow High School in 1975. Later she attended Community College of South Nevada and Florida Medical Prep as she completed her training as a Certified Nurses Assistant.
Tonya was most remembered by her passion in helping people. Most recently Tonya was employed by Utopia Home Heath Care in Ruskin, FL as a Nurses Aide. Her prior work experience in the Tampa area was as a Lieutenant and Site Supervisor for the Wackenhut Corporation for Citizens Property Insurance. Tonya moved to Tampa to join her daughter TSgt De'Lisa Brown who had recently returned from a Change of duty station from Korea to the 6th Air Mobility Wing, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron, US Air Force (USAF). Tonya who was a devoted mother stepped in to support her grand daughter while her daughter served her country. Not known by many, Tonya volunteered to serve during Hurricane Katrina's Relief efforts on the ground in New Orleans. There she received numerous accommodations from Global Risk Solutions and the Wackenhut Corporation for her efforts that were directly led to expeditious processing of numerous claims of the Hurricane stricken residents. Tonya also worked for Bank of West Nevada, in Las Vegas, and both the Wackenhut Corporation and the US Postal Service in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Tonya is survived by her two daughters Carla Renee Brown of Cincinnati, TSgt De'Lisa Brown, 6th Air Mobility Wing, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron, USAF MacDill Air Force Base Tampa, Florida, three grand children, De'Asia Brown (who survived the accident), Ty'e Brown and Trey Brown of Cincinnati. Also leaves behind her grandmother Anne Brown, father Richard W. Jones, three brothers Richard A. Jones (Indianapolis, IN), Stephon W. Jones (St. Louis, MO), Terry Jones and Terrell Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio) and a host of Aunt's Uncle's and cousins from the Brown, Jones and Wagner families. Preceding Tonya in death was her mother Cora F. Forte September 1981 and her stepfather Willie Forte in April of 2004. Funeral arrangements will be privately held in Tampa, Florida; however, a memorial service at Tonya's request will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio ( date and time to be announced at a later date). The family wishes to express their sincerest gratitude for the enormous support from family and friends but the family is requesting that calls to home be limited. Condolences can be forwarded to: c/o Carla Brown c/oTSgt De'Lisa Brown c/o Stephon W. Jones 1921 Crane Avenue Apt 1 8133 Alamosa Woods Ave 14475 Williamsburg Manor Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45207 Ruskin, FL 33573 Florissant, MO 63034