Alidia Usoa

We come with profound sadness to announce that the amazing, beautiful, and kind Alidia Usoa passed away on May 4th, 2026, at approximately 8:17pm at the age of 51.

Alidia was born on Friday, August 16th, 1974, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Barbara Dobbins-Quinn. She was the baby of the family, already having an older sister, Malisha Anderson, and older brother, Alfonso (Gumbo) Dobbins. From birth, she was always a source of light and laughter. Her mother was her best friend. She was fiercely protective of her and loved spending time with her and her dad, James Quinn. She brought joy to everyone around her. She was a selfless person who gave to others even when she didn’t have enough for herself.

Her children, Shalida Askanazi and River Jax, meant the world to her, and she sacrificed many things in her own life to make sure they both had the best she could provide. Instilling in them both the importance of following their dreams, getting an education, and being compassionate individuals. She loved her children for who they were and what they identified as. She never judged them and protected them as best as she could.

Alidia loved cooking and hosting. She had dreams of opening a restaurant. She loved serving those in need, which is why she went to college to study to become a nursing assistant and also took psychology classes. She was a lover of all animals. Always referring to her children’s pets as her “Grand-Pets,” she was a huge supporter of people with disabilities, arts, and LGBTQAI+ communities. Often, she was a support system for the transgender community. Blue was her favorite color, and she loved fashion. Frequently putting together beautiful outfits. Tulips were her flower of choice. As a young child, she would secretly pick tulips from a neighbor’s garden to give to her mother, Barbara.

Her laugh brightened rooms, and she loved having fun by listening to music or just relaxing with loved ones. She leaves behind her two children, Shalida and River. Her son-in-law Cory Askanazi (Shalida’s husband) and J Harley (River’s partner), her mother Barbara, and father James, along with her siblings Malisha, her brother in law James Anderson, and Alfonso. She is also leaving behind her dear nieces, whom she loved as if they were her own: Tinisha Dobbins, Mikiera Anderson, and Marshae Jackson. She also has many great nieces and nephews that she is leaving behind. Many people loved Alidia, including her aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Though our hearts are completely broken by the loss of such an incredible woman, we are comforted in knowing she is finally out of pain and free from suffering. We know she will always watch over us and guide us.

She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Alvirta, and cousin Cavina.

She will be forever loved and forever missed.

“So, I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we’ll never know most of them. But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come trom, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them”. -Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky