Birth date: Jul 26, 1961 Death date: Oct 6, 2010
Tanya was born on July 26, 1961 and passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2010.Tanya was a resident of Berkeley, California. Read Obituary
Thank you Tanya for being such a wonderful and true friend. Your life has taught so many people how to love and and how to forgive. I will never forget your words " let it go and release the negative energy that other people may bring your way. You were such a great role model to everyone from the little children to the grown ups. I will always keep you in my heart. I thank God for sharing you and your spirit with us. I will always Love you! Rest In Peace.Linda Smith
I met Tanya through my job at The Oakland Ensemble Theatre in 1989 when I first moved to Oakland. I wanted to sing and just didn't know the scene. She always made sure I knew what was going on around town. When I got going musically she'd always send me emails encouraging and congratulating me. I'll never forget her kind spirit and her love of the arts.
I met Tanya many years ago, while working at Project Pride. She was working with the children and we butted heads on so many things, but there was something about Tanya that never really let me be angry with her. I think it was because no matter what our differences were I always knew she was acting out of the kindness of her heart. I always knew that the children were here main concern. I can still hear Tanya's laugh, see her smiling face, and hear her sweet little squeaky voice in my mind. I didn't get to see her much over the years, but have though about her often. I'm sorry that I won't have the opportunity to see her again here in life. She will be greatly missed.
I met Tanya while working at Bella Vista. She was nice and very friendly, we talked and got to know each other. Tanya this poem is for you, we all know you are now with GOD. THE PROMISE WHEN YOU NO LONGER SEE THE WAY, COME HIDE YOUR FACE IN MY EMBRACE; FOR MY STRONG ARMS WILL CARRY YOU UNTIL WE REACH A SAFER PLACE. ALTHOUGH YOUR STEPS MAY FALTER NOW, AND SOUL AND SPIRIT WEARY BE, WITH MY OWN STRENGTH, I YOU ENDOW AND KEEP YOU EVER CLOSE TO ME. REST IN MY LOVE AND TAKE YOUR EASE, YOUR BURDENS I WILL TAKE ON ME AND BEAR YOU UP ON EAGLE'S WINGS FROM EARTH INTO ETERNITY. WE MISS YOU TANYA, YOU ARE AT REST NOW FROM ALL THE TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD. PRISCILLA
Peace and Blessings to All the family and friends that Tanya so unselfishly loved..I met Tanya in 1981 at Merritt College in the Gospel Jazz Choir class. Being so mature and forward thinking I immediately thought we were the same age no….Tanya was a bit younger… I couldn't help but to love Tanya's strong and loving spirit. She took to my 2 children, and wore her furs well! We laughed and joked about the minks biting each others tails when she was performing the role of Mary McCleod Bethune (always the educator!) at the Las Vegas Hilton Show we did for the Links in 1982. I will never forget how comforting she was on that trip because I had to fly home for my father's funeral and come back and do the show, between Brenda Vaughn and Tanya Miles it all got done. Whatever we did, where ever we traveled as the "Travailing Voices Tanya would mother us and make sure things were done correctly she was so business! Thank you Tanya you always had a smile and kind words for me… I learned so much from you…. Yes … What we shared will forever be in my memory Ahhh those good old days at… The Dock of the Bay, Sistuh to Sistuh Celebrations to Merritt College's 50th year anniversary celebration and the reunion of the Traveling Voices…. I will always have the fondest memories of you Tanya…. Thank you ….
Tanya was a sister friend to me in so many ways! We laughed ,cried,argued,sang together .Since moving to Japan I had not spoken to her as much but we kept in touch, I even tried to convince to move to Japan to teach. I got to spend some time with her , for that time I am grateful because we laughed,sang,talked and shared. I can still hear her singing you are my friend!
My Condolences to Tanya's Family, andf Friends."Serenity Prayer"Oh GodGrant me the serenity,To accept the things that I cannot change,The courage to changeThe things that I canAnd the wisdom to know the difference."These were the words off of "India Aries," Testimony: vol ,1, Life & /relationships, album. Tanya loved this album, because India spoke the truth in song, and the words spoke to her soul. She shared this wonderful music with me, and it spoke to my soul as well!I miss you my friend. I miss you a lot. I think of you often, and its been hard to release and let you go. I will miss our dinner dates…. our love for good, delicious food….Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, and down home soul food. Our conversations of "Union struggles, and how to empower the masses." I loved that you enjoyed the connections to people, that food, and good music could bring. I love that you truly loved the joy of teaching young minds…….and that the true authentic teaching, was reaching the the soul of a child. I love that you enjoyed, helping others navigate through spiritual waters; being a soldier for God and not afraid to say it! Thank you for teaching me how to forgive… the ability to release people…and continue to live. Thank you for sharing how to be the best person you can be, while living here on earth! You shared joy, happiness, peace and love..I realize that life on earth is very temporary,,,,we are only here, but for a minute…and then we are gone. Thank you Tanya for sharing your time, your gifts, your love, and your precious spirit with me. I will miss your physical presence………but your soul, and spirit are forever with me! Love you.
I was so very sorry to hear about Tanya's passing. I had regretted missing her birthday celebration because I was away on vacation, but she was so often in my thoughts. Tanya was one of the strongest advocates for working people I've ever known. As an Early Childhood teacher, she was passionate about the importance of teaching our youngest children. And she firmly believed in the power of unions to make us all stronger. She dropped into the Oakland Education Association center often just to help out, and was an enormous support to me when I was first President of the OEA. She took on the huge job of helping to organize our annual "Read Across America" event, and brought many of her fellow unionists out to read to children across Oakland. Tanya was a person whose commitment to teaching and to being a unionist came straight from the heart. I will truly miss her positive energy, her enthusiasm, and her big spirit.
To the family: May God comfort you and keep you in his care at a time such as this. Tanya was a truly beautiful and loving child of God. I was taken by her the very first time I met her, and she will be missed as much as she was loved, by myself and all others that had the pleasure of knowing her. God Bless…..
Condolences to the family n friends Tanya and i go a long way back from the Pride where Tanya was a counselor there she was alwys eager and open-minded to listen to us a great listener she will be missed.Gwen Gremillion Emeryville Ca
