T'Keyah "TT" LaPlante

HERKIMER – On Friday, January 6, 2023, T’Keyah “TT” LaPlante, age 26, passed peacefully to the hands of the Lord. She was in the company of her loving family, who were all a great support to one another. T’Keyah was born on March 8, 1996 in Utica to Heather LaPlante and Jeremiah Stutts. During her life, she also knew the love, guidance, and support of her step-father, Larry Nichols, Jr. She attended Ilion and West Frankfort elementary schools, and graduated from Herkimer High School. She soon found work with Valley Health Services, where she became a CNA. T’Keyah found a passion in the health care field and aspired to one day becoming a registered nurse. She gave her all to her job, wherever she worked, starting out with ProMed Staffing Resources, and lastly being employed at the Kelberman Center. Whenever T’Keyah met a new person, no matter which walk of life they came from, she showed them love and empathy. Her ability to touch people served her well in both her work and her home life. Her love of humanity stemmed from her love of her Lord. She often read her pink Bible, which helped her quote Scripture when appropriate, and ground her life in the Lord. Her spirituality was contagious. Some of her most cherished moments were her alone time when she got into “her zone,” where she found spiritual healing. She had a great personal relationship with her Lord, and she did many good deeds. One thing for which T’Keyah will always be remembered was her infectious smile. Her two daughters and her son were absolutely everything to her. She loved her children with her whole soul. Playgrounds were her second home with them. Her eldest, Nia, shared movie marathons and enjoyed watching the Netflix series Stranger Things things together. Her second daughter, Malia, was her mini me, who loved cuddling with her mom more than anything. They listened to music together and shared not only their looks but also their passion and spitfire personality. Her son, Armani, also strongly resembles her and was glued to her hip. The two of them would banter “oh no” to one another. T’Keyah truly loved each of her children, and she strove to grow as a person to be the best mother to them she could. Her three children were the reason she showed such a strong work ethic at her job, so she could provide them the best life she could. As a single mom, she did what she needed to do. Music moved her soul, especially R&B and early 2000s rap. She was a great dancer and was even known for her ability to twerk! T’Keyah also possessed a great deal of athleticism. In high school, she excelled on the field hockey and volleyball teams. She was also a furious walker, not usually having a destination, but never tiring - when she set out on her walks, she was on a mission! A night owl her whole life, her days were sorted around that. She loved swimming in upstate lakes – they were a place she could truly feel free. She found another passion in food, especially the soul food prepared by her Aunt Nikki and Aunt Missy. She always ensured that her plates were properly filled to the brim. When she ate a good meal, she always made a great sound of satisfaction. She often grabbed an extra-large ice coffee from Stewarts. She also was obsessed with Marvel superhero entertainment. She also loved reading and further educating herself. Something of a history buff, she read biographies often. She was so bright. She and her mother would often read the same authors and the two of them loved the common bond they shared. T’Keyah made her greatest memories during holidays, which she always said were made special by her mother. She simply loved being together with her mom and the rest of her family. She enjoyed the tradition and the fright of Halloween. From her childhood, her siblings called her “Tiddy Bumm-Bumm”, and she always appreciated the nickname. She spent many happy moments on FaceTime checking in with her sisters and brothers. She was what could truly be called an “others-centered” person and cultivated good friendships over her life, especially with Kasey, her inseparable friend and twin flame from childhood, and Nay who was her absolutely best and truest friend in these later years. T’Keyah is survived by her mother, Heather Nichols; and her step-father, Larry Nichols, Jr.; her precious children who she will always have a connection with, Nia Rowe age 7, Malia Rowe age 5, and Armani Rowe age 2; her siblings, Elysia Morris (LaPlante) and her wife Shellby, Briana LaPlante, Larry “Little Larry” Nichols III, Noah Nichols, Miah Stutts, and Mason Stutts; her maternal grandparents, Jean (Holtslag) LaPlante, Gerald and Marie LaPlante, and Bubba Walker; her aunts, Melissa, Heather’s twin sister Denise, and Nicole LaPlante; her niece, Ella Rose Nichols; and many great-aunts and great-uncles. She was also blessed with many cousins, with whom she grew up as one family and loved dearly, espeically Travina, Abrria, Aaliyah, Khalia, Nakia, and Fonz. Her loss will also be felt by her abundance of friends from all walks of life. She was preceded by her great-grandparents, Joseph and MaryRose Holtslag, and Beatrice LaPlante; and her great-uncle, Jason LaPlante. Her family wishes to extend a special gratitude to MVHS at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center special care until, in particular, the night angel nurse who was so present, kind, and gave so much hope to T’Keyah’s mom and family. The family also extends their thanks to her community who showed such love and special care during this tragic time, and to the two unnamed people who were by T’Keyah’s side until the medical staff arrived. In lieu of floral offerings, memorial contributions in T’Keyah’s honor may be made to her GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/tykeyah-laplante. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 16, 2023, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. followed immediately by a prayer service at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc. 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave.

T'Keyah "TT" LaPlante

March 8, 1996 - January 6, 2023