Vivian Sullivan Nwankpah

Vivian Eleanor Sullivan Nwankpah of Keller, Texas was born May 31, 1952 in Newport News, Virginia to John Isadore Sullivan and Doris Marie Mann Sullivan. On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 she went home to be with our heavenly Father.

Vivian was a graduate of the 1970 Class of Huntington High School and then attended the University of Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut where she majored in French, and also where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her first aspiration was to be an interpreter at the United Nations in New York City. Instead she became employed with American Airlines (AA) working in reservations initially and later as a QA Engineer Lead. With that departmental change, she relocated from Hartford to Dallas, Texas. Her division later became a separate entity, Sabre Holdings, where she worked until retirement. She continued to love all things French and often referred to herself as a Francophilia.

Vivian’s years within the airline industry afforded her many opportunities to travel. She visited many exotic lands including Nigeria; and for several years treated her mother to an annual fabulous vacation to places such as Hawaii, Paris, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In 1988 she was a contestant on Wheel of Fortune and she often talked about how exciting that experience was for her.

Just a few years after moving to Texas, she and her husband Levi were blessed with a beautiful baby boy, Ikenna James. She often referred to him as her 40th birthday present as he was born in April and she turned 40 the very next month. As Ikenna approached his teen years, Vivian developed a new passion of watching him play football. When he played football at Austin College, she traveled all around the Midwest watching the team play. She loved creating the online team newsletter for the Austin “Roos” so much so that she continued to be involved with the team for some time after her son’s graduation.

Her passion in later years gravitated toward creating graphics which she implemented into materials for family events and her many online groups: M.O.B.B. United, Inc., FaceBook’s Power Admin Group, Resplendence of the Royals, 50 Shades of Pink, Bethany’s Book Babes, and Quarantine Karaoke. Her impeccable taste and flair for design produced beautiful graphics that were enjoyed by many. Her favorite color was pink and she loved diamonds pearls, sterling silver and white gold. Vivian’s attention to detail led her to become a Proof/First Reader for Bethany’s Book Babes; and an Admin or Moderator for many of the groups.

Vivian was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Shirley S. Hall; and brothers, Junius A. Sullivan and Douglas J. Sullivan. Memories of Vivian will be cherished by: her son, Ikenna James Nwankpah; her siblings, Carolyn B. Mann, John W. Sullivan (Jacqueline), Charles L. Sullivan, Ramona Sullivan Mann, Angela S. Harris (Keith), Frances M. Sullivan and Franklin H. Sullivan (Carol).

Texas - Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon on Saturday, April 16th and Celebration of Life Services will start at 12:00 Noon at J. E. Foust & Son Funeral Home. The service will be live streamed and a link will be posted when available.

Virginia - Celebration of Life Services are scheduled for 1:30 PM on Saturday, April 23rd at Six Mount Zion Baptist Temple, 3100 Butternut Drive, Hampton, VA