Yolanda Strong

The world was blessed to welcome Yolanda Vasseal Allen – Strong, lovingly known as “La La,” on July 20, 1970, in Gary, Indiana. Her parents Ronnie Allen and Patricia McWay installed in her the love of God and the importance of education. She was educated in the Gary public school system and graduated from Roosevelt high school. Yolanda joined the Navy in 1989 and received an honorable discharge after leaving the Navy she furthered her education and graduated from Tide-Water Community College Magna Cum Laude and Calumet Community College Deans honor roll. She worked as a paralegal for many years and was always known for being a reliable and hard-working woman. 

Yolanda came to know Christ at an early age through the knowledge and wisdom of her beloved grandmother Juanita Crawford, whom she lovingly admired. 

She enjoyed listening to praise and worship music some of her favorite songs were, 

“Great Jesus”, “How Great Thou Art”, and “The Glory of His Presences”

These songs gave her much joy and peace. 

Yolanda had deep love and respect for her family and was a caring and protective mother to her two gifts of God’s love, her daughter Kayla, and her son Damon. She appreciated fun-loving conversations, shopping, traveling, live music concerts, BBQs, and watching some of her favorite movies and shows with her children. Yolanda had a unique and blissful relationship with her mother Patricia and was a devoted sister to her one and only sister Twaina and counted it an honor to be an aunt to her two nephews Darnell and David. 

She liked gathering with her family on many occasions and would always express that it was a time for reflection, music, dancing, food, and fun. 

Yolanda was an excellent cook and always shared her delicious meals with her family and friends. She had a very classy, stylish, and eloquent taste for fashion that was automatically seen whenever she would walk through a room.

Yolanda's life was a testimony, to all who knew and loved her she will be remembered for her loyalty, faithfulness, kindness, her beautiful smile, and most of all her love for God and family. Yolanda departed this life on July 6, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. 

She is preceded by her grandparents, William and Juanita Crawford; aunts Deborah Crawford, Effie Sims, Mattie Lee, and Ann Carrington; uncles Robert Carrington, Henry Carrington, and Tommie Lee; great grandparents Audrey and Loving Carrington and cousin David Crawford. 

It breaks our hearts that we must say goodbye to our beloved mother, but we know that she is now resting in the arms of her Lord and Savior and with that we find strength to endure. Our mother loved life and lived it to the fullest her memory, will forever live on in each of our hearts until we meet again. She leaves behind her daughter, Kayla Lauren Strong and son,

Damon Anthony Strong Jr, both of Houston, TX; father, Ronnie Allen; mother, Patricia McWay; sister, Twaina Swanson; uncles, Thayer (Michelle) Williamson and Ogbonna (Erica) Williamson; two nephews, Darnell Bowman and David Bowman; niece Lonya Woodard; special Godson Hasan Polk; special God-grandchild Marcus Syas, special friends Marlon Micthell. Linda Irvin, Sandra Kimbrough, Henry Key, and a host, of great nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and extended family. 

Yolanda will be deeply missed.

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