Dewanda Kay Hall-Pickens

Dewanda Kay Hall-Pickens was born on July 5, 1962, in Chatham, Louisiana, to Sheleva Johnson and D. Hall. Although she was born in Chatham, she, her mother, and her siblings journeyed to Chicago, where she lived for several years and had two daughters before moving back to Louisiana.

Dewanda, better known as Kay, was skilled in many areas. She was known for her seamstress abilities, event planning, catering, hairdressing skills, crochet skills, and much more. She was a licensed cosmetology instructor and gained some of her secondary education at Malcolm X College in Chicago and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

She was a walking alchemist who could create anything she imagined and often did. But she was most known for her kindness and giving nature. This nature led Kay and her husband to foster and become award-winning mentors to several children throughout Louisiana. They eventually adopted one of those children as their own.

Kay was also known for her positive energy and did her best to ensure everyone around her felt welcomed and loved. She opened her home to many with a smile and insisted they do more than have a good day. She insisted they have a good life.

Kay was a caring wife, a friend to many, and an encouraging mother to even more. She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Sheleva and Henry Johnson; brothers, Reginald and Henry; as well as her older sister, Jean. She was survived by: her loving husband, Carl; adoring children, Eychana, K’Shana, Jayce, John, and Corey; siblings, Patricia “Punkin” and Carolyn; future grandson; and an array of nephews, nieces, cousins, and close friends.

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