TANYA DAWN COLLINS DUNCANSON
Tanya Dawn Collins Duncanson, age 66, of Washington, DC, fell asleep in death Nov. 24, 2020, at Bridgepoint Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Tanya was born in 1954, in Mexia to Alvin and Millie Shavers Collins. She was the seventh of nine children. As a girl, she grew up in Limestone County in the countryside on Lake Mexia in the Echols/Sandy Community.
After finishing Echols, Douglass and Dunbar elementary and junior high schools and graduating from Mexia High School in 1971, she went on to attend Fisk University in Nashville,Tenn. While there, she met her future husband, Michael Duncanson. After leaving Fisk, Tanya attended Miss Wade’s Fashion Merchandizing School at the World Trade Center in Dallas (at her mother’s urging). It was in Dallas that Tanya began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Shortly thereafter she moved to Washington, D.C. where on July 1, 1980, symbolized her dedication to Jehovah God by water baptism.
While in Washington, D.C., Tanya worked for AASTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation) for 20 years. She enjoyed her nation-wide authority over radio frequency applications. During that time, on March 30,1981, Tanya married her life mate and love, Michael Duncanson.
From that union, in 1983, a beautiful daughter, Tanya Jemila Duncanson, was born. She was the apple of their eye.
Tanya became an advocate for natural medicine. She became certified in reflexology and learned about herbal remedies, vitamin and mineral treatment and delved energetically into finding help for whatever ailed any relative. Whenever she came to Texas, she would bring her diagnostic machines and books of remedies. Cousins would visit her to see what the books and machines said. She was more than happy to spend long hours looking up information and using the knowledge she gained from natural and homeopathic practitioners.
Tanya loved talking about her business as an independent vitamin and herbal distributor. She loved traveling with her daughter and visiting friends and family. Her family remembers her as a vibrant personality, always smiling. Her witty remarks could take you by surprise. She captivated little and big ones with creative comments about anything. Her nephews thought she was the coolest aunt they could ever have.
Tanya also loved talking about Jehovah God. She was very active in the ministry and she supported the weekly field service group and had a consistent share in audience participation at meetings and fulfilling her student assignments. She will be remembered for all the good deeds she performed in helping and caring for others. She put the needs of others and how she could help them as a priority in her life. Tanya is loved and will be missed by many.
A Virtual Memorial Service on Zoom will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. Participants must use ID: 881-6346-0555, and password Rev2134.
Mrs. Duncanson is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Joyce Caldwell and Donnie Cropps; her brothers, Val Collins and Alvin Collins Jr.
She is survived by her loving husband, Michael, and her daughter, Tanya Jemila Francis and son-in-law, Phillip Francis. She is also survived by her sisters, Dr. Millicent Harley, Washington, D.C.; Sherry Williams, San Antonio, and Tieri Collins, Houston; her brother, James Iverson Collins, Dallas,; and many nieces, nephews and cousins and one special aunt, Mattie Shavers Johnson, age 100, of Nashville, Tenn..
