Mrs. Nikki Rashan Jenkins (Pumphrey)

Nikki worked at Northwestern Mutual for 16 years in the Market Conduct Division. She mustered up the courage to step out on faith and pursue her passion as an author full-time which prompted her and her wife to relocate to Los Angeles, CA in June of2013. They drove twenty-two hours straight across country documenting their journey. Nikki was excited at what the future had in store. I recall talking to Brandy one day in late summer 2010 and telling her that developing a relationship with God just wasn't on my priority list. I was no longer that pained, guilt-ridden woman of my early thirties who was struggling and seeking answers. I thought I had found them all in my studies. Brandy was silent. She didn't agree with what I said or even acknowledge my words. But she didn't scold me either. The quiet on the other end was all I needed to hear because in it I finally heard myself. My resistance to Him was still the fear of judgment I might receive from others. In that stillness I learned that regardless of any external voices I might hear, and beyond the love of my friends and even the love I uncovered for myself, He loves me greatest. He always has, even when I turned from Him, and He always will. From that moment forward my heart re-opened. For me, I had to learn to love and accept myself without the outside pressure of organized religion deterring me from what I know is truth: He is love in all forms and I, along with every person and everything, am a reflection of His love. He is love in the light seeping through the blinds each morning, in the sparkles of the sky each night, and He is love in the form of silence on the other end of a summer afternoon telephone call. I'm so glad I listened." - © Nikki Rashan, December 2011 Nikki gave her heart to Jesus. She enjoyed following the ministries of Ioel Osteen and Dr. Tony Evans. On October I, 2013, Nikki's life journey took an unexpected course when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Nikki fought a good fight for 18 months and was given her angelic wings on May 4, 2015. When she transitioned she was surrounded by family and loved ones. The union of Russell Ward and Nikki birthed her amazingly wonderful and beautiful twin daughters Jasmine and Courtney Ward. They are truly Nikki's pride and joy. Both Jasmine and Courtney will miss their mother deeply. Nikki also had adoration for Russell's son from a previous relationship, Nathaniel Ward, who occupied a very special place in her heart. July 14,2012, Nikki and her wife Brandy exchanged vows in an intimate destination ceremony in San Juan, Puerto Rico. With family and close friends present, they committed their love and held true to their promises to one another. This was truly ''A Night to Remember" which was also the theme of their special day. On July 14, 2013, they legally married in Studio City, CA. Nikki always joked that she loved Brandy so much that she married her twice. Nikki will be lovingly remembered and missed by her wife and Brandy's daughter, Briana Jenkins. She will be dearly remembered by her mother Patricia Evans of Houston TX, and father, Rev. Fr. George F. Pumphrey Jr. (Lois) of Milwaukee, WI, one sister, Bonita Rodriguez (George) of Dallas TX, three brothers: Chris Pumphrey (Rosalind), Aaron Pumphrey and Adam Pumphrey all of Atlanta, GA. Nikki's great friends Dawn Cureton Baye of Dallas, TX, Benita Calloway and Anita Ortega of Los Angeles, CA will remember her always. Nikki is preceded in death by her twin sister Mikki Pumphrey. There are a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, very close friends, and fans whom will miss Nikki dearly. She is loved and admired by many. Signs of Nikki Rashan's passion for writing began at the early age of nine through her pre-adolescent Dear Diary entries. There Nikki chronicled her young life's daily activities, school-girl crushes, pre-teen emotions, and worldly observations. At age 12, Nikki expanded her writing to include poetry and short-stories. While Nikki admits the story themes may have been a bit advanced for her age, she wrote tales of teen love and first experiences, which, unbeknownst to Nikki, were previews of the sensual stories she'd later tell. It was in 1999 that Nikki had the idea to write a novel, and 2001 when the inner nudge pressed even deeper. After years of struggling with revealing her truth, Nikki wrote her first novel, Double Pleasure Double Pain, the story of Kyla, a woman who falls in love with another woman for the first time. Though the story is not a biography, Nikki wrote with first-hand experience of the battle some women face when struggling to let their true self shine. The sequel, You Make Me Wanna, continued to follow Kylas journey of self-discovery. 2010's Cyber Case, Nikki's third novel, explores the intricacies of social networking and the detriment it can cause to a relationship. Nikki's fourth novel, The Exchange, a continuation of Kyla's tale, was released June 2013. Nikki is also the author of Sugar on the Side, a novella in Carl Weber's Full Figured series, published October of2013. Les Tales: Tempted to Touch, a collaboration with fellow authors Skyy and Fiona Zedde, which was released May 27, 2014. One of Nikki's greatest passions lies in helping others to honor their truth. In 2004, Nikki shared her coming out story on Oprah with the hope of reaching out to other women who faced a similar inner crisis. The response was massive, as Nikki received innumerable emails from gracious viewers whose stories resonated with Nikki's. Nikki has been featured in Milwaukee Magazine, Swervmagazine, Studs magazine, mke, and she also participated in the GayNeighbor.org campaign, which helped promote awareness and visibility of LGBT families throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.

Mrs. Nikki Rashan Jenkins (Pumphrey)

August 18, 1972 - May 4, 2015