'Fearless': Tallahassee teen, former Rickards cheerleader remembered for determination
"She was just a light," Dominique Moore said of her youngest daughter Tatiyana Grace Gushiniere-Richardson, a 17-year-old with big dreams and an even bigger personality.
After attending Rickards High School, where she was also a varsity cheerleader, Tatiyana finished school early by obtaining her GED at 16 years old in St. Cloud, Florida. She was ready to walk into a new phase of life: college.
But before she could step into that next chapter, tragedy struck.
Tatiyana died in a car crash late Thursday night after she struck a tree while heading home on Woodville Highway after her shift at Zaxby's.
"Tatiyana was a big presence in our family, every second of every hour of every day," Moore said. "Aside from being sassy she was so smart and so giving."
Moore said she is "working hard at being OK" in an emotional interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.
"I was a single parent for a long time but I'm so grateful that I was single, because she got all my attention and we did so many things together and that's a solace that I have in this moment," Moore said. "Those 17 years were so full, there was more to do, but they were full."
Tatiyana loved the ocean, her family, traveling, cheerleading – and, of course, like any other teenage girl, she loved shopping.
Her favorite color was purple, the color of royalty, but sometimes she compromised her color of choice to match with her mom.
Her mentor, Janay White, founder of Tallahassee-based Girls 2 D.I.V.A.S., said Tatiyana and her mom matched more than just colors, they had mirroring spirits. The organization, which draws on the acronym for driven, initiative, virtuous, astounding, and successful, provides mentorship, tutoring, and workshops in awareness, goal setting, and strength building for girls in in the program.
"What I absolutely loved about her was that she was a true servant much like her mom," White said. "When she walked into any room or function, she was always ready to serve."
A constant reminder of Tatiyana's spirit in her home, Moore said, is her dog Lucy, a yorkie with the same spunk personality as her owner.
"I'm struggling just looking at her because the dog seems so sad," Moore said. "Lucy was her favorite being."
But it's not just Lucy missing Tatiyana; her whole family is, including her three older sisters.
Moore said it truly took a village raising Tatiyana, and that village described her as a force of nature that was felt across households.
Tatiyana's aunt and uncle Littida and Larry Thomas claimed Tatiyana as one of their own.
During her junior year of high school, she lived with her aunt and uncle in St. Cloud, Florida. They jokingly said that for six months, Tatiyana turned their home upside down.
"We just wanted to make sure we were giving Tatiyana the support she needed," Littida Thomas said. "To share just one thing about Tatiyana is a disservice to who she was because she was such a big personality."
At St. Cloud High School, Tatiyana ran track, and her uncle said her approach to the competitive sport was her approach to life.
"Tatiyana wasn't worried about beating anyone else, she wasn't worried about finishing first, she just wanted to make sure she was doing better than she did before, she was just running against the clock. She was absolutely fearless in whatever she approached," Larry Thomas said.
Inspired by her mother, who graduated from Florida A&M University at 44 years old with her bachelor's degree in social work, Tatiyana wanted to follow in her footsteps and attend FAMU in the fall even though she was still undecided on a major.
"I will continue to say her name, and I will continue to love her. I would like to tell her that I will love her forever and I am going to be OK," Moore said. "Continuing to love her and knowing she loved me is going to make me stronger."
Funeral arrangements for Tatiyana are set for Saturday, March 22, at Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church, at 840 W Dunn St.
Moore is looking for help with service arrangements and accepting financial donations to cover the costs amounting to $20,000.
Those looking to donate can do so at https://gofund.me/eeef38f9.
"Your light will continue to shine through all of us who had the honor of knowing you," the online fundraiser reads. "Rest easy, sweet angel. We love you forever."
Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee family mourns teen, Rickards cheerleader after car crash
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