Tina Louise West

On August 28, 1927 a beautiful baby girl was born to Lee and Annie Mae Collier in Tunica, Mississippi. "Tiny," as she was fondly called by everyone while growing up, always remembered her childhood as a happy time when she could play on the banks of the Mississippi River while her father Lee Collier worked as a logger.

Tina accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and decided to follow in the footsteps of her mother Annie, a devout Christian who dedicated her life to the service of doing God's work. Her mother Annie, a school teacher, instilled in Tina the importance of Christianity through her missionary work at Bethel A.M.E. Church.

After moving to Memphis, Tennessee Tina attended Booker T. Washington High School. Soon after graduation she married Ernest Lee White Jr. From this union, there were three children: Naima, Barbara; and Ernest III who preceded her in death.

In 1947 Tina left the South and moved out to West to San Diego, California. In the early fifties, she became a member of the Greater Trinity Baptist Church which was under the leadership of the late Reverend Willie Gayton. Tina remained at Trinity for over thirty years. She loved working with the youth and became Supervisor of the Progressive District Youth Ushers.

While in California Tina met and married Solomon Easley. They had one son, Steven Fitzgerald Easley. During the sixties, Tina worked at Convair in the aircraft industry. She later worked for San Diego City Schools, counseling young people at Lee Elementary and Bell Junior High School. Being extensively involved in the community, Tina also taught leadership classes for adult education and most recently she aided in the development of the Market Creek Project. After the death of Solomon Easley, Tina Married Frank West and lovingly embraced her new family, which consisted of four more children: Frances, Elizabeth, Bonnie; and Frank Jr. who also preceded her in death.

In 1988 Tina joined Bayview Baptist Church where she remained for over twenty years. There she served on the Usher Board and welcomed the opportunity to once again usher people into the house of the Lord. Tina often reflected on her sixty years as an usher with a sense of pride and satisfaction.

Mama Tina's sense of humor, courageous fighting spirit, country wit and wisdom transformed many lives and healed many hearts during her brief sojourn here on earth. She is survived by her husband Frank West and six children: Naima Shariefi-Campbell of Long Beach, California, Barbara and Earnest Harrison of San Diego, California, Steven and Taresa Easley of Tacoma, Washington, Francis Orene West of Texas, Elizabeth West of San Diego, California, and Bonnie Wright of Tucson, Arizona.

Tina also leaves behind many in her extended family to mourn her passing and cherish her memory including fifteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and three great- great-grandchildren as well as a host of other friends and relatives who loved her dearly.