DARICA SHUNTE’ STRONG went home to be with the Lord on September 12, 2021. Darica leaves to honor and cherish her memory, her mother, Erica Ushi; father, Joseph Ushi; great grandmother, Edwina; younger siblings, Moriah and Josiah; grandmothers, Jimita, Dayna (Curtis) and Mary; grandfather, Eric Graham (Karen); aunts, Johnae’, Simone and Pauline; great aunts, Monique and Beverly; uncles, James and Cameron; cousins, Billy Sr, favorite cousin Little Billy, Akeim, Mason, Jari, Shunda, Jamie, Queen, Michael, Malia and Tonie and a host of other relatives that will miss her beautiful smile.

Darica made her entrance into this world on January 31, 2003 to the loving arms of her mother, Erica Strong. She was the first of three beautiful children God entrusted to Erica’s care.

Darica was a beautiful, bright, and vibrant child who was introduced to Christ at an early age where she was baptized at Inner Healing Baptist Church in South Euclid, Ohio.

As a “Navy Brat” Darica traveled to many duty stations with her family to include Newport News, VA, Indianapolis, In, Millington, TN and lastly Okinawa, Japan.

Attending middle school in Indiana and Tennessee, she was a member of the band, ran track and a member of National Junior Honor Society.

While attending Millington High School for freshman and sophomore year Darica’s leadership qualities began to grow as she was a regular volunteer at the Navy Base Chapel, completed 2 years of Navy NJROTC, participated in Track & Field, choir and became a member of the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) club with aspirations of becoming a pharmacist in the military. She also continued to excel academically and maintained high honors.

Additionally, while in Tennessee her love for animals led her to take up horseback riding, at Millington Riding Academy, where she won numerous junior awards for dressage and showmanship.

In, 2019 her family transferred to Okinawa, JP where Darica would complete her junior and senior year of HS. Here at Kadena HS, Darica played golf, tennis and was a graduate of the Air Force ROTC, a member of the National Honor Society and a student council member. Darica, was fiercely independent and worked on-base part time and enrolled in college courses her senior year which allowed her to graduate a semester early in January of 2021.

Darica being no stranger to military life decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and join the US Navy. She left just 2 days after her 18th birthday for bootcamp in Great Lakes, Ill. After bootcamp she went on to complete Navy job training in Meridian, MS in which she would receive high honors by scoring in the top 10% of her class. This would allow Darica to be promoted early at her next duty station in Sigonella, IT. After, graduating from training Darica would go home on leave to spend time in Cleveland and Indianapolis with her grandmothers and hang with her cousin Billy and of course do some shopping.

Darica would leave Cleveland en route to Sigonella, IT in August of 2021. Darica would often text her mom about the travel plans she had while in Italy and had plans to vlog them on her youtube channel. She would text her Dad (Joseph) who is a personal trainer about work out plans to make sure she maintained Navy standards.

Darica loved life and the awesomeness of its beauty, demonstrated through her love of amateur photography. She loved taking pictures of sunsets, reading, animals, shopping for new tennis shoes, jewelry and experimenting with new recipes.

She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and loved watching scary movies with her grandmother Jimita who hates them! She also enjoyed riding roller coasters, trying new foods (especially sweets) but one of her biggest joy’s was being a big sister to Moriah and Josiah who will miss her dearly. She loved her family more than anything, and will be greatly missed by her favorite confidant, birthday twin and cousin, Little Billy.

On, Sunday September 12, 2021, after a night of exploring Italy and hanging out with friends, Darica’s life was tragically taken in a single motor vehicle accident. She will be greatly missed and her spirit will forever live with each of us.

Darica leaves to honor and cherish her memory, her Mother; Erica Ushi; Father;Joseph Ushi; Great Grandmother; Edwina; Younger Siblings; Moriah and Josiah; Grandmothers; Jimita, Dayna(Curtis) and Mary; Grandfather; Eric Graham (Karen) Aunts; Johnaé, Simone and Pauline; Great Aunts; Monique & Beverly, Uncles, James and Cameron, Cousins; Billy Sr, favorite cousin Little Billy, Akeim, Mason, Jari, Shunda, Jamie, Queen, Michael, Malia and Tonie and a host of other relatives that she meant along her travels. Her beautiful smile and energy will be missed by all who knew her.