Ms. Sonja Marcheta Manuel

On July 14, 2026, Sonja Marcheta Manuel went home to be with family in Heaven. Sonja was born in Buffalo, New York on June 3, 1950, the eldest child of parents Willie (WL) and Betty Manuel. She was followed by her sister Lydia "Chee-Chee" Manuel-Sigman and her brother Earl Manuel. Sonja was a part of an All-Girls Swim Team founded by her father, Willie in the 1960's. She swam the Backstroke and Butterfly strokes and won many competitions and metals. She loved a good competition and being part of a team. While attending Bennett High School she played basketball and was a part of the Gamma Hi-Fy at the Humboldt YMCA. She also was apart of a Girls Social Club called The Silhouettes with close friends Beverly and JoAnne Johnson, DaDa and Brenda Bratton, Felicia, Chee-Chee and a few others. Sonja was blessed with her daughter, Tina in July 1971 and continued her education at the University of Buffalo where she graduated as a Dental Assistant and Hygienist which she practiced for the next 30+ years in Flint, Michigan with Dr. Wright and then back in Buffalo, New York with Dr. Megna. She then chose a life change and invested in her passion for baking which she acquired from Aunt Sweet and became a pastry chef at the Hilton Hotel in Buffalo, New York. She moved to Portland, Oregon working as a pastry chef at Fred Meyer, then moved to Arlington, Texas with her Mother and Sister's family and became the Master Baker at Central Market in Southlake Texas. Those who knew Sonja knew she loved to dance and knew she had a passion for travel. Once she retired, she was always on the go visiting family and traveling with her Senior Center companions in Atlanta Georgia. Sonja loved her family and enjoyed seeing everyone at the Manuel Family Reunions. She was an avid NFL Fan, and her favorite teams were the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons! Sonja was a strong woman and warrior who survived Breast Cancer for over 20 years and other various surgeries. Having increased in Faith and having a relationship with God, she knew He the "Man Upstairs" as she called our Father God, had her back in every situation, so she was ready when He unexpectedly called her home to be with family. Sonja is proceeded in death by her Grandfather Earl "Paw Paw" Manuel, her Grandmother Allee "Aunt Sweet" Manuel, her father Willie Lee "W.L." Manuel and her mother Betty Ruth Manuel (Turner). Sonja is survived by her sibling's sister Lydia "Chee-Chee" Manuel-Sigman and brother Earl Manuel; as well as her only daughter Yashika "Tina" Jones and her long awaited granddaughter Lauren Anna Johnson; her nieces Chanel Inabinett, Tatiyanna Manuel, Sasha Sigman and Alexis Sigman; her nephews Earl LaMonte' Manuel and Stephen Sigman, her great nephews Antonio Johnson, Zakia Wingate, Sebastian Narain and her grandniece Savannah Sigman.

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Ms. Sonja Marcheta Manuel

June 3, 1950 - July 15, 2026