A Life Story

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved daughter, Rachel Michelle Tankersley, on December 11, 2024. She brought light and joy into the lives of everyone who knew her. Rachel was a bright star who lived her life with kindness, laughter, and an endless capacity to love.She was born on April 6, 1996, in Biloxi, Mississippi. She lived part of her childhood in Concord, North Carolina where she won many ribbons competing in Saddlebred horse shows and where she earned her second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of nine. In 2008, she moved to Savannah, Georgia with her parents and brother. She was a 2014 graduate of Savannah Christian Preparatory School, where she received the Art & Design II award for her artistic talents. Following high schooll, she attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fibers in 2018.Rachel loved nature with a special affinity for plants and the beach. She lived her life artfully expressing her vibrant free spirit through everything she did. She expressed herself through her love of music and art as a talented artist and singer. She had a deep compassion for animals which showed in the love and comfort she found in her dog, Hendrix. She had the ability to connect on a human level with people from all walks of life and always felt a need to be a friend and help others in need.She was the adored daughter of Katrina Embrey and Stephen Tankersley, a loving sister to Steele Tankersley and sister-in-law to his wife Emalee, the granddaughter, niece, and cousin to many loving family members, and a friend to so many.Rachel's vibrant energy and personality and witty sense of humor could light up a room. She leaves behind an indelible mark on the hearts of those who ever had the honor of meeting her or loving her and a legacy of love and warmth that will never fade.A private service and burial will be held followed by a memorial celebration in Rachel's memory at a later date.Our hearts are broken by her loss, but she will never be forgotten. We will carry her love and light with us always, finding her spirit surrounding us always in the beauty of nature and the many beautiful works of art she leaves behind.Rest peacefully, Rachel (our beautiful Sweet Pea). You always were and will continue to be deeply loved.