Zakayla JuAnn Black

Zakayla confessed her faith in Christ at an early age and was a devoted member of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in DeWitt, Arkansas. She began her service in the youth choir and later became an usher. Zakayla loved being in fellowship, hearing the Word of God, and spending cherished time with her grandfather, Gene Hopkins, and her family.

Zakayla attended the DeWitt School District, graduating with the Class of 2017. During her school years, she was actively involved as a cheerleader, basketball player, band member (playing the clarinet), and Color Guard Captain. She also participated in numerous clubs and school activities.

After high school, Zakayla continued her education at the University of Central Arkansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Upon graduation, she proudly began her nursing career at Baptist Health in Little Rock, Arkansas, and later advanced to become an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse at Baptist Health in Conway, Arkansas. Zakayla cared deeply for her patients, always showing compassion, patience, and kindness in every interaction. She also cherished the strong bonds she built with her colleagues and found great joy in working alongside them to provide exceptional care.

Zakayla deeply loved her family and treasured every moment spent with them. She shared a special bond with her cousins—Jamarious Bradford, Travis London, Taylin “Tay Bug” Denton, Braydon, Harper, and Ella Davies—whom she adored wholeheartedly.

She was preceded in death by her grandmothers, Faye Alice Black and Ella Mae Daniels; her aunt, Jo Elle Stockers; and her great-grandmother, Della Dean Mopkins.

Zakayla leaves to cherish her loving memories her parents, Shreatha Hopkins and Joe Black of DeWitt, Arkansas; her special father figure, Larry White of DeWitt, Arkansas; her sister, Kiana Wright of Conway, Arkansas; her brother, Johnta’ Wright (Alyssa Talkington) of Conway, Arkansas; her grandparents, Judy Harris of Dumas, Arkansas and Gene Hopkins of DeWitt, Arkansas; her aunts, Mercedes Denton of Dumas, Arkansas, Secretha Bates and Veronica Williams, both of Toledo, Ohio; and her uncles, Nikoata “Koda” Davies (Cameron Orman) of Hazen, Arkansas and James Gamble (Latrena Gamble) of Stuttgart, Arkansas.

She also leaves behind her best friends, Tyla Cartwright and Keia Smith, both of Little Rock, Arkansas, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who mourn her passing.

Zakayla was also blessed to have a chosen family whom she loved dearly: Deshaunna Jamison, Della and Dale Jamison, LaJada Cooks, Martel Culclager, Niyyah Collins, Genesis Toliver, Johnaton “Lil John” Wright, and Brayton “Ton Ton” Wright.

Her compassion, faith, and kindness will forever be remembered by all who knew her. Zakayla will be greatly missed by all those she encountered along her life’s journey.

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