The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:1,2

On a bright and very hot summer Sunday afternoon, on July 6, 1980 at 1:55 p.m., a beautiful daughter was born to Shelton Jr. and Nancy Piggee at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Ponca City Oklahoma.  She was given the name Kanela Elizabeth Ann.

"Nela" transitioned to be forever with our Lord and Savior on Tuesday evening, September 18, 2018 at 8:18 p.m.

Kanela was baptized at the age of 8 at the St. John Baptist Church by the late Rev. Levi. G. Smith.  She spent those formative years active in Sunday School, Children & Youth Choirs, Junior Usher Board and Vacation Bible Schools. She attended Washington Elementary School and East Junior High School where she participated in Girl Scouts and was a cellist in the school orchestra.  Her other activities included piano, ballet, tap & gymnastics but her passion was softball, a family tradition.  She spent much time in those interests with her friends JoVon Lockett, Mandy Dixon and Angela Scott.

At the age of 6, Kanela began to play up a bracket and was involved in tournament play traveling around the state and other parts of the country with her team as they were playing in regional and national tournaments.   She loved the sport and spent most of her birthdays celebrating the milestones with teammates at tournament venues.

In 1993, due to her parent's employment, the family relocated to Lake Charles, LA and Kanela enrolled at FK White Middle School. Her first friends were Shelley Guillory, Christine Lavoie, and DJ Hicks from the Gulfgate neighborhood.   The family immediately united with the Christian Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Abbie Monroe where Kanela participated in the Youth Choir.  She joined the Junior Delsprite Youth Program of the Lake Charles Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and later the Senior Delsprites.  In Spring 1994, Kanela enrolled with the College Oaks Recreation Softball Program, with just barely enough players to organize another team, Kanela along with Jaime, Heather, Christine, Rachel, and Linsey; and a few others with their fathers as coaches, forged together and won the league championship and league tournaments that season. This was the beginning of lifetime friendships and ball playing.

In Fall 1994, Nela entered LaGrange High School as a freshman.  There she participated in Future Homemakers of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The Flag Corps/LaGrange Band and Softball.  She continued to play summer recreational ball with "The Gamblers" under Coach Eddie Guillory and was a lifeguard at the University Summer Swimming Program.  Her freshman year she became the team pitcher. She was coached by Cindy Baker, Brian Vidrine and Shannon Foolkes.  She was so very proud that she and the core group from College Oaks Recreation had remained together and had become the first team to take LaGrange Softball Team to the LSHAA State Tournament.   Kanela was elated that her team had voted her the MVP 1997-1998.   She was named to the All State Team for two years.

She graduated from LaGrange High School in Spring, 1998.  In the fall, she enrolled at Chipola Junior College on an Athletic Scholarship and completed her Associate Arts degree.  She was awarded a softball scholarship to FAMU, but returned to finish her collegiate studies at McNeese State University.

On July 25, 2005, Kanela was joined in holy matrimony to Dracus L. Graham, and to this union, three beautiful children were born:  Karis Elizabeth Fay, Karson Dracus LeShon, and Karlyn Savannah Ruth.  She was such a giving and sharing person; a devoted wife, loving mom, homemaker and actively involved in her children's school and sports activities.

She also was an umpire for SWLA USSSA Baseball.  Kanela was employed by Bell South/AT&T for 15 years where she assisted with the United Way Campaigns and the March of Dimes Campaigns; and later by FED EX until her health declined.  She loved cooking and entertaining family and friends, as well as attending family reunions to keep in touch with extended family.

She was preceded in death by her father, Shelton Piggee Jr. her grandparents, Elnora and Shelton Piggee Sr. and Henry J. Cochran; three Aunts, Shirley Patricia Piggee, Lhonita Dewhart Brewer; Whonita Piggee Dixon; two uncles, Scottie Wade Piggee, and Robert Lee Thomas, Sr.  Two cousins, Tia Monique Piggee and Willie Joe Dixon.

Those left to cherish her memory are her three children, Karis, Karson and Karlyn; her mother, Nancy Piggee; three sisters, Kris, of Coppell, Tx; Pilar Piggee, of Pittsburgh, PA; Shannon Neifer (Mike) of Henderson, NV; Maternal Grandmother, Mrs. Bettye Cochran Fry, of Oklahoma City, OK. One Uncle, Robert Piggee, Des Moines, IA; Two Aunts, Mattie Piggee, of Pocola, OK; Shirley Thomas, of Slidell, LA; Cousins, Missy Dewhart, Stephanie Dixon, Frank Dewhart, Sostane Brewer, Terrell Brewer, Sean Thomas; and the Cochran cousins: Shirley & Sylvester Sartin; Stacey Sartin; Sylvia Leverett, Sharron Boulware; Sonya Payton, Kevin Harnsberry, Onelia & Aaron Cochran, Damon Cochran, Ernie and Jeanette Taylor, and Mel and Veronica Harnsberry; neices, nephews, and numerous other cousins, close friends and extended family.

A very sincere offer of appreciation is extended to Ethel Fields, Dolores Hicks, Bernice Zachary, Daisy Jones, Louella and Warren Wesley, Carla and Richard Clark, Zelda and Eric Fry, Dr. Shawntrica Reynolds; Victoria Rankins, Christine Racca, Heather Jones, Atavia Sinegal (Lil Sis), and Pastor Edward and Sister Edriena Alexander for your outpouring of support and deeds during Kanela's illness.  We shall forever be grateful.