Birth date: Dec 16, 1958 Death date: Feb 4, 2025
Skye Ward Dawna Skye Ward, “Skye,” 66, of Oakland, California, passed away on February 4, 2025. Skye was born December 16, 1958 in Los Angeles, California to Lenzy and Martha Ward. Skye grew up in L.A. and attended 24th Street E Read Obituary
Rest Peacefully my Friend
Rest Peacefully my friend
Skye and I were connected by Oaktown Ricki Stevens when she sought to exchange her Oakland apartment for a Paris apartment to promote her book on Paris. Our connection deepened. She helped me host a last-minute event for the Afrodescendant community in my home. Skye's incredible presence and skills shone through as she effortlessly helped manage every detail—from staging the house and preparing refreshments to hosting, documenting attendees, capturing images, archiving and the cleanup.
At the evening's end, I witnessed Spirit come down as her entire body shook: she declared in love with me. Skye imprinted at that moment my mindbodysoul with her energy and soul in a way that will forever be.
We shared a passionate challenging life for over 12 years, as mature, strong women each on her medicine path, we navigated the complexities of a long-distance relationship between Paris and Oakland, endured the trials of each other’s illnesses then COVID confinement.
I honor her as :
· an event maker par excellence,
· committed to helping others succeed,
· a lifelong learner constantly honing her skills and crafting her arts.
· dedicated to regularity and discipline to bring her body into long-term fitness as well as to medicine journals and altars to deepen her/our spirituality.
Skye often cited her aspiration to weave her medicine and art into her daily life with unwavering respect for social justice and genuine care for people.
Her hypersensitivity to images, sounds, and smells channelled into capturing the essence of nature and people, turning her walks in Oakland, Paris and St Mary's college into medicine and art that she generously shared with others.
Skye's legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew her and in the countless lives she touched with her warmth, creativity, and spirit. Unapologetically. Black lesbian.
She will be deeply missed, but her memory will continue to inspire and guide us all. In this way, her presence lives on.
Skye and I were connected by Oaktown Ricki Stevens when she sought to exchange her Oakland apartment for a Paris apartment to promote her book on Paris. Our connection deepened. She helped me host a last-minute event for the Afrodescendant community in my home. Skye's incredible presence and skills shone through as she effortlessly helped manage every detail—from staging the house and preparing refreshments to hosting, documenting attendees, capturing images, archiving and the cleanup.
At the evening's end, I witnessed Spirit come down as her entire body shook: she declared in love with me. Skye imprinted at that moment my mindbodysoul with her energy and soul in a way that will forever be.
We shared a passionate challenging life for over 12 years, as mature, strong women each on her medicine path, we navigated the complexities of a long-distance relationship between Paris and Oakland, endured the trials of each other’s illnesses then COVID confinement.
I honor her as :
· an event maker par excellence,
· committed to helping others succeed,
· a lifelong learner constantly honing her skills and crafting her arts.
· dedicated to regularity and discipline to bring her body into long-term fitness as well as to medicine journals and altars to deepen her/our spirituality.
Skye often cited her aspiration to weave her medicine and art into her daily life with unwavering respect for social justice and genuine care for people.
Her hypersensitivity to images, sounds, and smells channelled into capturing the essence of nature and people, turning her walks in Oakland, Paris and St Mary's college into medicine and art that she generously shared with others.
Skye's legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew her and in the countless lives she touched with her warmth, creativity, and spirit. Unapologetically. Black lesbian.
She will be deeply missed, but her memory will continue to inspire and guide us all. In this way, her presence lives on.
I was blessed to meet Skye in Paris when a friend asked her to video one of my concerts. It was excellent and we posted it. I asked her to become my social media manager and thus began our professional relationship. She preferred to film when I sang only with my guitarist, Thierry Paul, in his studio. By mutual respect and admiration the two of them soon became friends. Now, whenever we perform he wears the western style tie clip she gave him as a token of her appreciation.
Skye always put me in the best light and kept my followers engaged and responsive by the excellent content she posted. On her last visit to Paris (Dec. 26, 2024 to Jan. 22, 2025) her fatigue was apparent. Yet she insisted on doing the work she had planned; taking photos and videos.
Skye was my friend! We enjoyed laughing, talking, eating together and exchanging stories. Thierry and I were both shocked and dismayed at the news of her transition and joins me in expressing our deepest condolences to Carolyn, Mary, Harlan and all the family members; also to Jen and her family of friends.
Skye, you will always be in my heart; Your kindness, generosity, talent, reliability, sincerity and the exceptional person that you were will remain in
my memory forever.
Ursuline Kairson
My deepest condolences to the family at the monumental loss of this most precious life. Skye and I met many years ago during her time in Chico through our collaborative writing sessions for Aché. We spent many long hours together in a series of black women salons staged at my home in Oakland. Her love of the pleasures and joys of life were contagious as was her humor and laughter. She will always remain in my heart. I am sending a special hug to Mary who I haven't seen in many years and who I have always felt a deep connection to. May this family, beloved friends and colleagues continue to benefit from the many jewels scattered before our footsteps from this beloved being we knew as Sky Diver. Deep Bows, Amana Johnson
