Obituary of Sonya Jeron Headen

Sonya Jeron Headen (formerly Turner) was born on May 12, 1967 at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada to Dianne Taylor-McTear and Earl Turner (deceased).  As a child she attended True Love Missionary Baptist Church and became a faithful servant of the Lord. Sonya graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in 1985. She went on to graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in May 1991 with dual Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Communications and Print Journalism. During her college year’s she met James Michael Headen “Mike” whom she began dating.  This was the beginning of what would become a thirty-one-year journey together. The two were subsequently married on May 15, 1993 at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Sonya began employment with Southwest Gas Corporation in May 2007 as a Media Analyst in the Corporate Communications Department.  During this time, she built a multitude of lifelong friends among her fellow “Southwesters.” Prior to Southwest Gas Corporation, Sonya held similar positions as Public Information Officer/Media Communications at NV Energy and Nevada Partners.  Overall, Sonya devoted approximately twenty-six years to her career field of media and communications and built a solid reputation among her peers. Sonya was often described as compassionate, caring, a kindred spirit, and a true “gem” of a person. She could always be relied upon.

Sonya enjoyed spending time outdoors with family and friends during cookouts and camping events.  In addition, she loved motorcycle rides with her husband on short trips to Southern Utah. Recently, she attended a Las Vegas Aviator game in Las Vegas and immediately fell in love with attending baseball games.  She was also an avid practitioner of yoga, which she used to calm her mind during difficult times.

After a year-long illness, Sonya departed this life on August 3, 2019. She is preceded in death by her father Earl Turner and beloved grandfather Charlie Scott; and beloved father-in-law James Louis Headen.  She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 26 years, James Michael Headen; her daughter Jordan Headen; her mother Dianne McTear; step father Willie McTear; her grandmother Mae Ethel Scott; mother-in-law Constance Headen, sister-in-law Stephanie Headen, niece Cameron Taylor; Siblings Janice Johnson, Candy Smith, Sheree Turner, Earl Turner, Jr. and RaMeikiya Davis, niece Arielle Williams, and many cousins, nephews, nieces, and extended family members and friends. 

A viewing will be held on Thursday, August 15, 2019 from 3:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. at Kraft Sussman Funeral and Cremation Services, 3975 S. Durango Drive, Suite 104, Las Vegas, Nevada 89147. 

An additional viewing will start at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 16, 2019 prior to the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., both will be held at New Jerusalem Worship Center (NJWC), 1818 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89106, with the burial to follow at Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131. A reception will be held in the event center at NJWC following the burial.