KaToya DeShae' Burnam-Ferrell

KaToya DeShae’ Burnam-Ferrell was born on December 8, 1987, in North Little Rock, Arkansas to Vickie Burnam and Elroy O’Donald. She transitioned from this life on August 31, 2026. She blessed our lives whole heartedly, embracing us with the biggest and brightest smile. She was one of a kind, and she had the heart of a lion.

KaToya earned her high school diploma from North Little Rock High School – West Campus in May of 2006 and joined the United States Marine Corps in 2009. She also received a certificate in Mechanical Technology and an associate’s degree in electrical mechanical technology from Vatterott College in Berkeley, Missouri. She possessed many skills and accomplished a plethora of things such as becoming a CNC machinist, operator, apprentice electrician, cutter press operator, finishing technician, quality process checker, military administrative specialist, and forklift operator.

KaToya was an extraordinary mother to her son, Orlando. She set no limits or boundaries when it came to her son. She lived and thrived for him; Orlando was her world. She loved her family unconditionally. Katoya loved to laugh, have fun, travel, and live life to the fullest, especially taking trips and helping others, whether they were family or friends. She loved and was so loved by any and everyone who crossed her path.

She is preceded in death by her father, Elroy “Gate” O’Donald; brother, Frederick “Weasel” O’Donald; grandfathers, Freddie Dean “Big Man” Freeman and Clarence “Doug” Whitfield; grandmother, Orastine Thomas, and great-grandmothers, Aggie Banks-Burnam and Ollie Freeman.

She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Orlando Elroy Mack; mother, Vickie Burnam; siblings, Elroy Burnam, Sr., Myeisha Burnam, Kaneisha Burnam, Regina O’Donald, and Shanice O’Donald; three nephews, Walter Hickman, Jr., David Bedford, and Elroy Burnam, Jr.; nine nieces: Kadaviyha Bedford, Imani Hickman, Serenity Hickman, Myeika Adams, Justice O’Donald, Aaliyah and Mariah Boles, as well as a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.