“Though you are suddenly gone from this world, you will never leave the universe of our hearts”

On the morning of July 15, 2024, at the tender age of 13, Aaliyah Niya Golding completed her earthly journey. Surrounded by her loving family, she returned to our Heavenly Father.

Aaliyah was born on April 29, 2011, in Dover, Delaware to parents Nigel and Heather Golding. As a toddler, Aaliyah was very petite but quite feisty and full of energy. Her family relocated to Maryland where she attended Leonardtown Elementary School in St. Mary’s County and later Pax Appeal Elementary School and Mill Creek Middle School, both located in Calvert County.

Aaliyah, affectionately known as Liyah, developed a love for music at an early age. Chorus was one of her favorite classes throughout her elementary and middle school years. She enjoyed the creative arts and could often be found drawing, painting and writing poetry. Liyah also was an athlete who ran track in elementary and middle school, as well as AAU track for the 301 Panthers beside her brother, Jaylan and sister, Kaylah. It was just one of the many activities they enjoyed together as siblings.

Despite being small in stature, Liyah had a hearty appetite and had a particular fondness for deviled eggs, french fries and doughnuts. Sweet Frog was her spot for ice cream. Liyah was a huge Harry Potter fan, and liked playing video games, especially Fort Nite and Roblox. She had a passion for amusement parks and water rides and, of course, the roller coaster was her favorite.

Liyah found joy in doing things with those whom she loved like swim lessons with Jaylan, family night at the movie theater, making funny TikTok videos with Kaylah as well as her cousin, Kyann, girl talk with her sister, Michelle, and family vacations to Disney and other fun locations with her Dad. Liyah was a protective and sweet big sister to Landyn and would frequently prepare his lunch for school and read bedtime stories. Sometimes when Landyn couldn’t fall asleep, he’d go to his big sister for hugs. Seven months ago, Liyah became a proud first-time Aunt to Zaiah and would dote on her precious niece every chance she got. Liyah treasured time with her Mom. The two would often snuggle in front of the tv with their favorite snacks to watch Dance Moms or Stranger Things. A typical mother-daughter date would consist of running by Starbucks then hitting the nail salon for lots of talking and laughing while getting manicures and pedicures.

Liyah had a compassionate heart for all animals and was very playful with the family dog, Raven, and especially with her own pet—-a cat lovingly named Kingston Kit-Kat Golding. In fact, she had already decided to pursue a career caring for animals. She aspired to attend the University of Miami, Florida to become a marine biologist. Her future was bright. She was an intelligent, spunky, funny, sensitive and loving soul. The legacy of Aaliyah Niya Golding lives on in the lives of 5 children who are the blessed recipients of her organs.

Aaliyah leaves to cherish her memory her father, Nigel Golding of Magnolia, Delaware; mother, Heather Golding and siblings, Kaylah Barnes, Jaylan Golding, and Landyn Somerville of Leonardtown, Maryland; sister, Shatia Robinson of Baltimore, Maryland; sisters, Janae Swanson and Michelle Golding of Dover, Delaware; Grandmother, Mary Swales of Leonardtown, Maryland; Grandmother, Barbara Chandler of Hempstead, New York, Uncle Troy Golding also of Hempstead, New York, Uncle Selvin Golding of Baldwin, New York, her niece, Zaiah Barnes of Leonardtown, Maryland, and a host of family and friends.

The family will receive friends on Friday, August 2, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM in St. Aloysius Catholic Church Leonardtown, MD. Where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 AM with Father David Beaubien officiating. Interment will follow in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery Hollywood, MD. Serving as pallbearers will be Nigel Golding, Troy Golding, Andre Brown, Thomas Douglass, Jr., Bryan Slack, and Theodore Johnson. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jaylan X. Golding, and Landyn D. Somerville.