Javaughn Renee Fernanders

Javaughn Renee Fernanders of Westlake, CA passed away on August 10, 2026, at the age of 56. Born on April 4, 1970, in New York City, she grew up in Southern California. She attended La Sierra University in Riverside and received a bachelor’s degree in 1992. After college, she played in a band and worked as a Park Ranger in the Santa Monica mountains. She married Chris Morrissey in 2003 and moved to the Bay area. Javaughn worked as an art teacher in a charter school in Palo Alto, and later as an immigration advocate in Berkley.

Javaughn and Chris moved to Indiana where they built their beautifully diverse family, adopting their three girls, Darnisha, MacKenna, and Christina. Javaughn worked as a park ranger at both Indiana Dunes National Park and St. Joseph County Parks. A life-long learner, Javaughn furthered her education, graduating with her master’s degree in 2008 from Indiana University, South Bend. She loved people, nature, but most of all, she loved God. She was the youth coordinator for the Illinois Yearly Meeting for the Quaker/Friends Churches in Indiana and later was youth coordinator for the Pacific Yearly Meeting for Quaker/Friends Churches on the west coast.

Javaughn and family moved to Portland, Oregon for the next five years. Working as a full-time mother to her three daughters, Javaughn also worked as an art teacher at a program for adults with disabilities and at Whole Foods in Portland.

Javaughn moved back to California in 2019. Chris and Javaughn continued co-parenting though they were no longer married. Javaughn served as a youth pastor in the Friends Church. She taught yoga to children at the YMCA, and created a program called, “Playcademics” using play to enrich learning. She was an artist, selling artwork at local vendor fairs, she worked as an insurance agent and an AI trainer; she was always looking for new ways to use her gifts to make the world a better place and help people live more connected lives.

Javaughn was an active member of the Thousand Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Church (TOSDA) and also attended Calvary Community Church in Westlake. At TOSDA Church, Javaughn served as a Pathfinder leader and a member of the Health Committee. Jovaughn advocated for people with special needs. She participated in the Special Abilities Ministry at Calvary Chapel as well as facilitating adult divorce groups. One of her life goals was to see more churches create programs for individuals with special abilities and neurodivergence.

Javaughn is survived by her mother, Valerie Rhaney, her father, Edward Eugene Fernanders, her co-parent (ex-husband) Chris Morrissey, her daughters: Darnisha Guyanne Thomas, MacKenna Grace Renee Morrissey, and Christina T’ika Renee Morrissey, her aunts, uncles, cousins, and sisters-by-choice.

The family would like to thank all of the family members, church family members, and friends for the care and compassion they showed Javaughn in her final days. Javaughn truly loved being surrounded by people. She lived for connection, and all of you who showed up in these last few months brought joy to her heart.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Thousand Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Church, 480 W Gainsborough Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 on Friday, August 28, 2026 at 10am. Please wear bright colors in honor of Javaughn’s love of life and nature.

Interment to follow at Pierce Brothers Valley Oakes-Griffin Memorial Park, 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91362

Please join the family after the interment service for a repast back at Thousand Oaks SDA Church, 480 W Gainsborough Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.