Obituary for Shanell Manuel "Nikki" Blair
Shanell Nicole Manuel Blair, lovingly known as “Nikki,” was born on March 31, 1979 to Henry L. Manuel, Jr. and Brenda Taylor Manuel in Petersburg, Virginia. She was educated in the Colorado Springs Public School System, Palmer High School, Class of 1997. Nikki earned an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and went on to be a childcare provider and center director for over twenty years in the Colorado Springs area. She later received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Project Management. After moving to the East Coast, Nikki was a middle school educator in the Vineland New Jersey Public School System.
Nikki was baptized and attended New Resurrection Missionary Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On September 12, 2003, she was joined in marriage to Jomo Dwayne Blair. This union was blessed with the birth of their beloved daughter, Cianni La’Bianca Manuel Blair on January 19, 2005.
Nikki’s passions were her daughter, brother, and travel. She and her brother, Hank, always picked a destination to spend one of their birthdays together most years. Nikki was excited to move to the East Coast to spend time with family. She never stopped talking about her birthday spent with her sister, cousins, and aunt and looked forward to many more. Nikki’s last trip was a cruise, with her daughter to Bermuda in 2022, where they explored the island by scooter and anticipated their next trip to Paris in the summer of 2023.
Nikki was known for her beautiful smile and fun-loving spirit, but was never afraid to express her opinion. After an unexpected illness, she was mercifully called home to glory on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. She leaves behind her loving daughter, Cianni La’Bianca Manuel Blair; parents, Henry L. Manuel, Jr. and Brenda Taylor Manuel; brother, Henry Manuel, III; sister, Latanya Gaskins Sampson (Layfield); companion, Rico Cintron; her beloved dog, Sasha; aunts, Cellastean Bethea, Linda Sturgis, Gloria Jackson, and Janice Manuel; uncles, Rickey Manuel (Carla) and Robert Taylor; nephews, Henry, IV and Davon’Tra; niece, Ikeriah; eighteen cousins; special friends, Brieanna Winch, Dawn Haliburton, Darius Rossy, and Leilani(Nora) Alvaranga.
Nikki was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clinton & Annie Taylor and Henry & Aline Manuel; aunts, Alice Palmer and Virginia Manuel; cousins, La’Bianca “Qui” Manuel and Julian Brisco.
Lovingly and sorrowfully submitted,
The Family
Nikki was baptized and attended New Resurrection Missionary Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On September 12, 2003, she was joined in marriage to Jomo Dwayne Blair. This union was blessed with the birth of their beloved daughter, Cianni La’Bianca Manuel Blair on January 19, 2005.
Nikki’s passions were her daughter, brother, and travel. She and her brother, Hank, always picked a destination to spend one of their birthdays together most years. Nikki was excited to move to the East Coast to spend time with family. She never stopped talking about her birthday spent with her sister, cousins, and aunt and looked forward to many more. Nikki’s last trip was a cruise, with her daughter to Bermuda in 2022, where they explored the island by scooter and anticipated their next trip to Paris in the summer of 2023.
Nikki was known for her beautiful smile and fun-loving spirit, but was never afraid to express her opinion. After an unexpected illness, she was mercifully called home to glory on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. She leaves behind her loving daughter, Cianni La’Bianca Manuel Blair; parents, Henry L. Manuel, Jr. and Brenda Taylor Manuel; brother, Henry Manuel, III; sister, Latanya Gaskins Sampson (Layfield); companion, Rico Cintron; her beloved dog, Sasha; aunts, Cellastean Bethea, Linda Sturgis, Gloria Jackson, and Janice Manuel; uncles, Rickey Manuel (Carla) and Robert Taylor; nephews, Henry, IV and Davon’Tra; niece, Ikeriah; eighteen cousins; special friends, Brieanna Winch, Dawn Haliburton, Darius Rossy, and Leilani(Nora) Alvaranga.
Nikki was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clinton & Annie Taylor and Henry & Aline Manuel; aunts, Alice Palmer and Virginia Manuel; cousins, La’Bianca “Qui” Manuel and Julian Brisco.
Lovingly and sorrowfully submitted,
The Family