Tanya N Wigfall-Harrington

Tanya Nichele Wigfall-Harrington was born on March 2, 1963, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to  James Wigfall Jr. and Bernice Wigfall-Pollard. She was raised in Hillside, New Jersey, where she graduated from Hillside High School in 1981. Tanya was an excellent student who graduated with honors, was recognized in Who’s Who Among American High School Students, and received a scholarship to attend Marymount College in New York for Fashion Design.

In October 1982, Tanya welcomed her first daughter, Tiara Janté. She later became the proud mother of Dawn Nichele and Aliah Lauren. On February 28, 1991, Tanya married Jeffrey Harrington, with whom she shared a life, a family, and many cherished memories. Through their union, she lovingly welcomed Jeffrey Jr. into their blended family. Tanya later gave birth to Branden Shakille in 1993 and Jordon Mekayle in 1999, completing the family that remained at the center of her heart throughout her life.

Motherhood was one of the greatest joys and callings of Tanya’s life. Her children, and later her grandchildren, remained her joy through every season. Tanya began her professional career in property management, working in New Jersey for several years before moving to Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1994. There, she transitioned into social work, housing advocacy, and community service, dedicating much of her career to supporting women, children, families,
disabled people, and individuals in need of safe, stable housing.

Professionally, Tanya served as a Transitional Housing Coordinator and Case Worker for the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, where she helped individuals and families navigate housing insecurity and work toward greater stability. She also served as a Housing Counselor Specialist with Liberty Resources, Inc., continuing her lifelong commitment to advocacy, inclusion, and dignity for those too often overlooked. Throughout her career, Tanya held several leadership roles and became known for her compassion, strength, and unwavering commitment to advocacy, inclusiveness, and equality. Her service extended beyond her professional work. Tanya served on several boards and community organizations, including the Board of Directors for Neighborhood Housing Services of the
Lehigh Valley from 2002 to 2005, the Affordable Housing Coalition from 2002 to 2006, Welfare to Work from 2002 to 2005, and the Homeless Service Shelter Providers Network from 2002 to 2006. Through these roles, she helped shape efforts around affordable housing, homelessness, welfare reform, economic mobility, and community support throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Tanya also continued her education at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where
she completed coursework toward a Bachelor’s degree, focusing on Sociology and Psychology,
while maintaining an impressive 3.9 GPA. Her studies reflected what she carried so naturally: a deep understanding of people, community, hardship, resilience, and care. In recognition of her decades of service, Tanya was honored as a 2025 Unsung Hero Award recipient by the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services. She was also recognized by the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through a proclamation
sponsored by State Representative Peter G. Schweyer. This honor celebrated Tanya’s generosity, advocacy, resilience, and devotion to making her community more equitable, accessible, and humane, especially for those living with disabilities and economic hardship.

Tanya was also a writer and storyteller. In 2017, she published her children’s book, Hope In A King, sharing her gift for encouragement with young readers and families. In her final years, Tanya continued her ministry of inspiration through her social media platforms, Tanya Talks and Te Nichele. As a content creator, she shared empowering, deeply personal, and inspirational videos that encouraged others to persevere through difficulty, believe in themselves, and keep moving forward. Her words reached people far beyond her immediate community, offering hope, honesty, humor, and wisdom. Through both her professional work and her online presence, Tanya advocated for inclusiveness, equality, dignity, and accessibility for disabled people, using her own voice and lived experience to uplift others.

Tanya was also a woman of faith. For many years, she attended Grace Deliverance Baptist Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, under the leadership of former pastor Reverend Melvin Tatem. While there, she was an active member of the choir, sharing her voice, joy, and spirit with her church community.

Above all, Tanya’s pride and joy was her family. She was a devoted daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, friend, and inspiration to many near and far. She was a champion and supporter of her loved ones, always encouraging them, celebrating them, and standing beside them through every season of life.

Tanya was preceded in death by her father, James Wigfall Jr.; her beloved husband, Jeffrey Harrington; her stepfather, James Pollard, who played a pivotal role in her life; and her son, Jeffrey Harrington Jr.

She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved mother, Bernice Wigfall-Pollard, and Bernice’s longtime partner, Tony, who has also been a caring and familiar presence in Tanya’s life for many years; her loving big sister, Andrea Wigfall; her brothers, Fard Muhammad and Yasin Wigfall; her children, Tiara Janté Wigfall, Dawn Nichele Wigfall and her partner Jeremy, Aliah
Lauren Wigfall and her partner Ramon, Branden Shakille Harrington, and Jordon Mekhayle Harrington; her daughters-in-love, Ebony Goodwin, Rosa Rivera, and Dineicia Simmons; her nineteen grandchildren, and a host of siblings-in-love, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, extended family, and dear friends.

Tanya’s life was marked by creativity, intelligence, faith, advocacy, resilience, and love. She touched countless lives through her work, her words, her presence, and the deep care she poured into her family and community. Her legacy lives on in all those she loved, encouraged, served, and inspired.

Funeral Services will take place on Saturday May 30, 2026 at 1:30PM in Restoration Temple.  Public Visitation begins at 12:30PM

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