Shalonda Taneé Drummer was born on April 18, 1975, at Kaiser Permanente to the union of Lawrence Drummer Jr. and Carol Drummer. She was their first child and only daughter, and from the very beginning, Shalonda had a personality all her own. She grew up in Cleveland and hollered every chance she got. Anyone who knew Shalonda knew that she liked things her way, and if they weren’t, you were probably going to hear about it. She was the same way as a little girl. After getting a new pair of shoes, she sometimes didn’t even want to get down because she was afraid of getting them dirty. Her love for everything being clean, neat, beautiful, and in its proper place stayed with her throughout her life.

To be loved by Shalonda was truly a gift from God. She loved her family openly, deeply, and without hesitation. She was fiercely protective of the people she cared about and would give you anything she had if she thought you needed it. Shalonda was incredibly selfless and found joy in showing up for the people she loved. Those who were blessed to experience her love knew just how special it was to be loved by her.

Faith was also an important part of Shalonda’s life from an early age. She accepted Christ and was baptized at Second Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. She also grew up attending the church under the leadership of Rev. A.L. Owens, where she was a member of the Angelic Choir and other youth activities. Her father made sure she was in church every Sunday, from early mornings at Sunday School to second service in the afternoon. Many of the friendships she formed during those years at church became an important part of her life, and she remained devoted to her church well into her adulthood.

Shalonda grew up right alongside her younger brothers, Lawrence III and Carlton. Being the oldest sister to two brothers may not have always been easy, but there was never any question about who was the princess of the family. What Shalonda wanted, Shalonda usually got. Her brothers spoiled her, and no one in the family would have had it any other way. She loved clothes, shoes, purses, and anything that allowed her to express her style, but one collection became especially associated with her: the Tasmanian Devil, better known as Taz. When her mother once asked why she liked Taz so much, Shalonda replied, “Because Taz is like me. One minute we are nice, and the next we can be a terror.” Anyone who knew her could probably appreciate exactly why the nickname stuck.

After graduating from Erieview Catholic High School, Shalonda attended Cleveland State University. After attending Cleveland State University, she spent many of her working years at Marc’s Grocery Store, an Insurance Company and what is now known as Spectrum. While at Spectrum, she developed an amazing group of lifelong friends. Later in life, she had the opportunity to work alongside her first cousins, Andrea Clark and Marcus Taylor, at Taylor Physical Therapy & Sports Health. Working with family brought Shalonda great joy, and she especially appreciated the grace and understanding she was given during the times when her health made it difficult for her to work consistently.

Shalonda had a gift for making things beautiful. Purple was her favorite color, and if something came in purple, there was a great chance she was going to buy it. She had a special eye for decorating and could transform an event once she knew the color scheme. That same creativity showed through in the beautiful jewelry she made, which she would sometimes sell but often ended up giving away.

Through her illness, she was introduced to The Gathering Place, which provided help to those with cancer, lupus and other illnesses. Shalonda was very active with her team (Shalonda’s Angel’s) in participating in Race for the Place, an annual community 5k and 1-mile walk/run held on National Cancer Survivors Day to celebrate cancer survivors, support those affected by cancer, and raise funds for free programs and services at the Gathering Place.

She also knew how to enjoy the things she loved. Shalonda loved to eat, and a trip to Red Lobster was one of her favorite forms of self-care. She loved traveling and experiencing new places. Even as her health began to place limitations on what she could do, she remained determined to travel whenever she was able and made every effort to enjoy as much of life as possible.

Among Shalonda’s greatest loves were her niece, Carrie, and nephew, Kendrick. Although she did not have children of her own, the love she poured into them was unmistakable. She loved them as her own, spoiled them every opportunity she had, and made sure they always knew how deeply their Auntie loved them. Whatever Carrie and Kendrick wanted, Auntie Shalonda did her best to make sure they got it.

Throughout many years of health challenges, Shalonda continued to fight with strength, determination, faith, and the same strong will that had been part of her personality since childhood. On August 25, 2026, after fighting for as long as she could, God had the final say and called Shalonda home to rest.

Shalonda leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate the life she lived, parents; Lawrence Drummer Jr. and Carol Drummer, brothers; Lawrence Drummer III and Carlton (Frechic) Drummer, grandmother; Anna Cordell, niece; Carrie, nephew; Kendrick, godsons; Isaiah, Ja’tevion, godbrothers; Daryl, Reginald, godmother; Jewel Haynes, aunts and uncles; Phillip-Sonny-Cordell Jr, Michael (Roxy) Casey, Robert Aaron Casey, Williams Evans Casey, Tyrone (Linda) Drummer, Jerome (Cheryle) Drummer, Evonne Drummer, Alfred (Selina) Drummer, Janice Drummer, Bernard Drummer, Carolyn Drummer, and Anthony (Carolyn) Drummer, and a host of cousins, lifelong friends, church family, extended family, and associates who loved her dearly.

She was preceded in death by grandparents; Phillip Cordell, Carrie Belle Drummer, and Lawrence Drummer Sr., uncles; Gale E. Drummer, William Taylor and Michael Dean Thomas, aunt; Patricia Belle Drummer-Taylor; (sister in Christ) Kim Stanley and her godfather, Rev. Otis Haynes.

Forever in Our Hearts, Never Forgotten, We Love You Dearly