Principal Asya Telecia Adkins Cenatus

Principal Asya Telecia Adkins Cenatus passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2026.  Homegoing Service will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Riverhills Church of God, 6310 E. Sligh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617, with Dr. Antonio R. Hawkins, Officiating, Senior Pastor of Exciting Faith Alive Church.

Principal Asya Telecia Adkins Cenatus was born on March 28, 1988, to Aric and Paula Adkins in Honolulu, Hawaii alongside her sisters, Arilicia and Alissa. Asya was proudly considered a “military baby” and had the unique opportunity to live in Hawaii, Germany, North Carolina, Texas, and Florida.

She was educated in Hillsborough County, attending Burnett Middle School and graduating proudly from Armwood High School. Asya went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Florida and later obtained her Master’s and Specialist degrees from Saint Leo University.

Asya’s love for literacy, community, and education shaped her calling as an exceptional educator and leader. After beginning her journey in education in her birthplace of Honolulu, she devoted nearly 15 years to Hillsborough County Public Schools, where she passionately championed student success, inspired and empowered colleagues, and faithfully served the East Tampa community with unwavering excellence and heart. She was the principal of Oak Park Elementary School. 

Above all else, Asya’s heart belonged to God. She embraced life fully and treasured her family, her Oak Park Elementary family, her cherished sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA), and her church home, Exciting Faith Alive Church. She found great joy in holidays, themed celebrations, and creating lasting memories through new experiences.

Asya will be remembered as a devout wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Her life was a testament to purpose, strength, and perseverance, and she approached every challenge with a practical, no-nonsense attitude when needed. Above all, Asya embodied love, touching the lives of all who knew her with warmth, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to her family and community.

Preceding Asya in her transition are her great-grandparents, Joseph and Doris Bryant; her grandmother, Sarah Campbell; her grandfather, Merlyn Shephard, and her father, Aric Adkins.

Asya's memory will be cherished by her loving and devoted husband of nearly a decade, Lawrens, and their beautiful daughter, Zoe. She is also survived by her mother, Paula Adkins; her siblings, Gregory Artis Jr., Arilicia Choice (Carmon), and Alissa Relford (Tromonte); and her grandparents, Sam and  Jacquelyn Mickens. She is further survived by her second parents, Laurore and Marie Cenatus; her in-laws, Jennifer and Matthew Davis; three nephews, Gregory Artis III, Jalen Anderson, and Jackson Davis; three nieces, Samara Artis, Madison Davis, and London Florexil; several uncles and aunts (Victor and Johnny Adkins, Sammy Mickens, Joe Jones, Victor and Pamela Dabney, Denise Shephard, and Brenda Adkins-Jones); and a host of other loving relatives in the Adkins, Jones, Singletary, Shephard, and Dabney families. She also leaves behind her faithful friends, cherished sorors, and her beloved Oak Park Elementary family. 

Remains will lie in repose, Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Riverhills Church of God, 6310 E. Sligh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617.

The family kindly requests that, in lieu of floral arrangements, those who feel led to offer an act of kindness consider supporting the family during this time directly for Zoe Paula-Marie Cenatus’s, 529 education savings plan.

You may contribute in either of the following ways:

Option 1: CashApp

Recipient: $paulaadkins14

In the memo please note: Zoe’s college fund

Funds will go into my Ameriprise Financial account and then be contributed to Zoe’s

529 plan.

Option 2: Check

If you prefer to send a check, please use the following instructions:

Make the check payable to: Ameriprise Financial

Write in the memo line: FBO Zoe Cenatus

Postage-paid envelopes will be provided at the service and mailed to Ameriprise

This ensures the donation is properly directed to her 529 account.

Your support means more than words can express. Thank you for helping to invest in

Zoe’s future during this challenging time.

With heartfelt appreciation,

The Cenatus and Adkins Family

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners

www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com

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