Erica Camille Vaughns

OBITUARY ERICA CAMILLE VAUGHNS December 5, 1975-February 20, 2023 Erica was born December 5, 1975 in Washington, D.C., the second daughter of Vera Simms Vaughns and the late Joseph Christopher Vaughns (1985). She was a thoughtful loving child with a great smile, deep laugh, and apple cheeks. Erica attended public schools in Prince Georges County, Md. She graduated from Gwynn Park High School, received her bachelor's degree from Salisbury State University, her first masters from University of Maryland and was working on her second masters at Morehead State University. Erica received her Certified Scrum Master (CSM) in 2017 and her Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification in 2018. As member of the American Sociological Association, she reflected her interest in serving the community. Erica was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church, D.C., later confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church in Clinton. When she moved to Waldorf, she became an active participant at Peace Lutheran Church also in Waldorf, but maintained her membership at Hope. She was a devoted Christian and wore the Love of God on her sleeve. She facilitated a book club and Bible studies over the years Erica had a calm and loving demeanor which stood her success as an educator in the Archdiocese school system of Washington D.C. for several years. Her demeanor also contributed to her successful Federal career at the Library of Congress where she was employed at the time of her transition. There, Erica Founded the NSL Aspiring Leaders Internship Program using donor funding. She was Project Coordinator for the Braille Certification Learning Management System - from inception to the execution process, including identifying stakeholders, writing the project charter and developing a test plan for the system. She wrote a 41-page document titled The Professional Visitor Program Information Guide. Erica is published. She conceived and wrote Talking Rooms: Walking through History at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Headquarters, a booklet on the history of National Library Services which won the APEX 2010 Award of Excellence for one of-a-kind Government publication. (Library of Congress, 2009). Erica's hobbies and interests were varied; she loved to sew, crochet, cook, read, and have philosophical discussions. Erica was a Certified Crochet Master and Instructor. She spent time volunteering in support of communities in need. Warm nights, refugee relief, those aging out of Foster Care, and food banks are examples of how she spent her spare time. Writing was her favorite, she loved to write as she expressed many times, for her it was stress-releasing and freeing and she was a member of the Victorian Letter Writers Guild. Even with all her activities, Erica did not neglect but thrived on Bible study. She studied the Bible often with her uncle Brooks. Family was of utmost importance to Erica, especially her nieces and nephew. She loved spending time with them and was not just a proud Aunt, but their Godmother, a spiritual advisor, mentor, confidant, and friend. She was heavily invested in their all-around well-being, as well as a constant cheerleader and supporter. The amount of love and positive influence that Erica poured into them will forever be a guiding force in their lives. Left to cherish her memory, her mother, Vera Vaughns, sisters Christina Britt (Jason), Angela Matthews (Ishmael), step-brother and sister, Darryl Jones (Marilyn) and Andrea Hayes (Dwight), nieces Jailynn and Josett Britt, Camille and nephew Christopher Matthews, aunts Lorraine Neal and Bettina McClendon, uncle Richard Simms (Michelle), great aunt Irma Brown and many cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her step-father Edward Jones, step-brother Thomas Jones, uncles Robert W. Simms (Carol and Yvette), Charles N. Vaughns (Roslyn), and Brooks Neal.

Erica Camille Vaughns

December 5, 1975 - February 20, 2023