Michele'le Ytekia Ann Whaley, had many interests

Michele’le Ytekia Ann Whaley, 30, of Dover was called home Saturday,  Aug. 7, 2021. Michele’le, better known as Michele, was born Oct. 6, 1990, in Lewes to Collena Whaley (Hope) and Lentford Michael Handy. She was the oldest of five children on her mother’s side and the third of eight on her father’s side.

Michele’le went to elementary school at East Millsboro and Long Neck Elementary, Campus Community Middle School, Academy of Dover, and private school at Crossroads Christian School. In 2010, she graduated from Caesar Rodney High School. Michele was currently attending online courses at Central Michigan University. She was studying to pursue a degree in psychology. Michele had a great interest in the study of the human brain. She wanted to study the brain and how it correlated with human behavior and mental health.

Michele and her siblings were a part of the Life Keys program at Del Tech, where they were able to make a huge impact in and throughout the community. They volunteered for various charities, and worked on life skills. Through this program Michele was able to achieve various career opportunities.

Michele grew up in Oak Orchard, where she and her sisters and brother made many great memories. When she was 7 years old, they moved to Dover, where she spent the remainder of her years. There she would dance, play basketball, participate in Crossroad Christian Church teen ministry, listen and sing to music, and enjoy fashion. She loved to read the wonders of a person’s mind and had just purchased multiple books that she had intended on indulging in.

She especially loved fashion and modeling. She traveled near and far to pursue a career in modeling. She loved to get dressed up, nails done, hair done and makeup, because of course she always had to look her best. Michele’le wanted everyone to fix her up and make her look pretty all the time.

Michele loved spending time and raising her four children. She loved taking them on long walks, to the park, shopping and ordering carryout because she did not like to cook.

Michele loved being surrounded by and having fun with her family and loved joking a lot. She was very resilient. No matter what came her way, she knew she had to persevere. She tried her best to maintain control over any and every situation. She always thought of ways to tackle situations and would come back stronger the next time.

Michele’le was preceded in death by her maternal great-grandparents James and Annabell Whaley, paternal grandparents Daniel “Boobie” and Joyce Ann Goodman, maternal grandfather Thomas Whaley Sr., brother  Kiwanis Burton and special nephew Azriel Whaley.

Michele'le will be deeply missed and is survived by her parents, Collena (Chester) Hope of Lincoln and Lentford “Michael” Handy of Pennsylvania; four children, Zynell Whaley of Dover, Israel Whaley of Lincoln, Chase Green and Kyra Green of Delaware; six sisters, Rejunai Whaley of Middletown, Najwa Whaley of Harrington, Afrika Whaley of Millsboro, Ayonna Maddox of Greenwood, Jayla Johnson, and Mikeya Johnson; three brothers, Zion Whaley of Sandy Springs, Ga., Justin Walls of Bear and Donyai Hope; maternal grandmother Betty Whaley of Lincoln; two nieces, Ajirah Whaley and A’mari Whaley; one nephew, Elijah Whaley of Lincoln; and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m., with viewing two hours prior at Nehemiah 6:3 Faith Builder Inc., Lincoln.

Service entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services, Inc., Camden.