Taniya (Pnut) Perkins was born in Stoughton, MA on November 4, 1989 to Tiya Brown and Lee Perkins. Pnut was their second child together coming right after her sister Tiya. Shortly after, her brother Antwon was born. Pnut was always a daddy’s girl. She maintained a close relationship with her father throughout her life. When Pnut and her siblings were growing up, her mother met their stepfather Oswin and together they welcomed two additions to their family; her sister Aijalon and her baby brother Amaroah who she kept close to her and under her wing.

As a child, Pnut loved to sing, dance, and be with her family. Pnut’s first friends of many were her cousins. She had an especially close relationship with her cousin Ada. They were always together working hard on new dances to “Where My Girls At?” and “Bootylicious”. Pnut would sing at the top of her lungs until it annoyed you. She always knew how to push your buttons! She was brave, daring, and never afraid to go the extra mile.

Soon into young adulthood, Punt met the love of her life, Ronnie. They were inseparable and his family became her extended family. They soon welcomed their beautiful baby girl Sah’ranei into the world. Pnut adored her daughter. She nourished her with love and kept her surrounded with family.

Pnut was deeply rooted in her culture. She loved to learn about her ancestors and explored her spirituality. Like her mother, she was a great cook and she incorporated some of her extended family’s culture into her lifestyle and cuisine as well. Pnut was extremely inquisitive, questioned everything, and stopped at nothing to find answers. She loved to people watch which meant she was looking out for everyone. That included standing up for what was right and always seeking justice. Pnut had a caring heart and was motherly to everyone.

As Pnut blossomed into a young woman, she pursued everything that was of interest to her. She studied many philosophies and dreamt of pursuing law amongst many other things. However, at 31 years old, her dreams were abruptly interrupted by a senseless act of violence that destroyed her future.

Pnut leaves behind her daughter Sah’ranei, her mother Tiya Brown, her father Lee Perkins, her stepfather Oswin, second mother Trisah, her sisters Shannon, Janine, Tiya, and Aijalon, brothers Lee, Julius, Shawn, Antwon, Amaroah, extended sisters Bryana and Dyman, cousin and best friend Ada, a host of great-aunts and uncles, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, maternal great-grandmother Viola Brown, maternal grandmother Sharon Brown, maternal grandfather Alvin Bacon, and extended grandmother Ma, and friends everywhere she went. Pnut was proceeded in death by paternal grandmother Ethel Lee Perkins, paternal grandfather Wilbert Constant, and cousin Osemedua Ude.

Her family will miss her for her spontaneous pop-ups, dressing up in the mirror while dancing and passionately singing at the top of her lungs, and bringing everyone together like she loved to do. She was the life of the party, always fashionable to her own tune, and illuminated every room she entered with the vibrancy of her spirit, her beauty, and her infectious laughter. Pnut was unique and never wanted to be like anyone else but she accepted everyone as they were.

May love, peace, and togetherness be with us all

A Going Home Celebration will be held at Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington Street, DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS, Tuesday October 12 at 11:00 AM. Family and friends invited. Visitation will be prior to the service from 10-11 AM. The Burial will be Private.