Jade Aniya Callwood

With hearts full of love and loss, we share the life of Jade Aniya Callwood, a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend who meant more to us than words could ever hold. Jade was only 21 years old when she passed, but she lived with a depth, clarity, and spirit that felt far older, and at the same time, wonderfully youthful. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” — Oscar Wilde Jade was born on July 21, 2004, at Rockdale Hospital in Conyers, Georgia, and she passed away on January 13, 2026, in Tuskegee, Alabama. From the very beginning, she knew exactly who she was. Jade had her own mind early on, what she liked, what she didn’t, and what she was not willing to bend on. Peer pressure never pressured her. She didn’t care for romping or confusion. She preferred quiet, space, and time to just be. People often thought Jade was quiet. She wasn’t. She simply chose when and who to speak to, and when she did, her opinions were strong and her convictions clear. If Jade decided to comment, she meant it. And if she didn’t, she was perfectly content observing the world, often with a knowing look that said she had already figured it out. “She belonged to herself.” — Virginia Woolf She was funny, truly funny. Jade laughed at anything dumb. Her laugh was high-pitched and unmistakable, and once you heard it, you never forgot it. Her sister could say something as dumb as “pee pee poo poo” and Jade would be in tears laughing. She found humor everywhere. She had moments of brilliance and moments of complete silliness, sometimes both at once, and that balance was pure Jade. “Those we love never leave us; they live on in our hearts.” To her father, Jade was his daughter, a good girl, and someone who made him proud every single day. To her mother, Jade represented freedom, a free spirit who stood firmly in who she was, even when that strength made parenting a learning experience. From a young age, Jade had a clear sense of what she wanted, and she expressed it without hesitation. This is what her mother cherishes most. Jade’s ability to stand firm, trust her instincts, and live truthfully. But they both really wanted her to get a job! Social Construct – What is she talking about it?! Jade’s grandparents saw her clearly too. Her Grandma Eslyn lovingly called her an “old lady,” because Jade moved through the world with calm wisdom, quiet preferences, and a soul that felt timeless. Grandma Eslyn wants Jade to know that she is deeply loved and will be missed beyond measure. Grandma Goldine cherishes every moment they shared, going to church, doing Jade’s hair, talking quietly together, holding secrets and private conversations. In her words: “I hold her love in my hand, and when I miss her, I put my hand to my heart.” Jade was a sister in every sense of the word. To Trezure, she was more than a sister, she was her friend. They did everything together, and now everything reminds her of Jade. To Alani, Jade was an inspiration, open-minded, present, and grounding. Alani will always associate Jade with green, her love of plants, and the Nerf gun she got for Christmas. Alani misses her presence deeply. “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” — John Muir Nature was Jade’s sanctuary. She loved everything about it: the grass, the crispness of morning dew, sunrises, lakes, and open air. She loved plants—all plants—and the color green in every shade (maybe expect neon). She was happiest barefoot, bumming around, imagining a world where money was just a social construct… this made her parents nuts. GET A JOB JADE! Nope, she said, “What do I need a job for? I don’t need money. I will just stay at home with you guys.” Music was another place Jade felt at home. Her playlists were vast and genre-blending, new music, old music, everything in between. She loved mixing genres and listening through her Apple headphones. She controlled the playlist on Thanksgiving while the family cooked. Anyone knows the Deftones, Jade did, her favorite band at the moment. When Jade needed to recharge, she chose solitude, her room, her bed, her space. That’s where she felt safe. In the comfort of her parent’s home, where she planned to stay if she didn’t get a job. Trust me, they worried, lol. Jade was smart, undeniably so. She graduated from Heritage High School in Conyers, Georgia, in May 2022, and went on to attend Tuskegee University, where she is set to graduate in May 2026. She was a Plant and Soil Sciences major in the College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences, under the leadership of Dean Olga Bolden-Tiller. Jade will earn her Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Plant Sciences, a path that fits her perfectly, even if it puzzled others at first. (Her parents still joke about the moment Jade explained she was moving from a veterinary track to what she lovingly called a “dirt digging degree.” But there was nothing more to be said. She fell in love with her field of study, often bringing home plants and tending to their needs. “She would have changed the world” – Khalilah Wilson Jade worked as a Trainee Lab Assistant in the Plant Biotech and Genomics Research Lab, where she trained in tissue culture and plant bio-inspired morphogenesis. She worked with Arabidopsis (uh-RAB-ih-dop-sis), a model plant used to understand how plants grow from single cells into leaves, fruits, and seeds. She loved the work, quietly, thoughtfully, fully. With her job earnings to Jade, bought Christmas gifts for her family, a quiet expression of love that meant everything to those who received them. Outside of school, Jade loved music, gaming, drawing, art, Pinterest, shopping for jewelry, tending to her plants, and frequenting Dollar Tree and Zaxby’s—truly keeping them in business. “What is loved never disappears.” Her parents want her to know how deeply admired she is, how proud her father has always been of her, and how profoundly her mother respects the way she knew herself and followed her own path. They want her to know that her independence, her intelligence, and her unwavering sense of self were not only seen, but celebrated, and that she is loved beyond measure. Her sisters will miss her always and never forget who she is to them. Dylan will miss her always. Jade’s Aunties and Uncles will forever cherish their Jadey Bear, Jadey Baby, Chunky. “Love does not end.” Jade is survived by her loving mother, Taykierah Callwood; her father, Dwayne Bryant; her older sister, Trezure Callwood; and her younger sister, Alani Callwood. She is also lovingly remembered by her paternal grandparents Eslyn Bryant and David Bryant; her maternal grandmother Goldine Callwood; and her late maternal grandfather Douglas Perkins (1993). She leaves behind her aunts and uncles, Therese Bryant, Devon Bryant, Shane Callwood, Albert Callwood, Sheri Edwards, Danielle Taylor, Khalilah Wilson, and Taykiesha Callwood, her cousins and extended family who will miss her deeply and cherish her always. We will keep telling the stories that make us laugh, repeating the inside jokes, and yes, we apologize for ever telling her to shut up, because that girl could talk, and now we would give anything to hear her again. Missing Jade hurts. Her absence feels like a hollow space that cannot be filled. But her love remains, held in our hands, pressed to our hearts, carried forward in laughter, nature, music, and quiet moments of understanding. Love From Her Family