Sunrise
The Life of Kristena Gordon
Kristena (Tena) LaNee’ Gordon was born to Tarica LaNee’ Gordon on October 18, 1986, in Oxfordshire, England. She accepted Christ into her life at an early age and in the early 1990s and became a member of True Vine Bible Fellowship. Her favorite color was purple.
roughout her life, Tena had many accomplishments and contributed to the community. Tena lived on the Central Coast for most of her life. As a former military dependent, she had the opportunity to travel and live abroad. After high school, Kristena attended Allan Hancock College, and then went on to graduate from Hawaii Pacific University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Following college, she attended omas Jefferson School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 2013. After being admitted to the California Bar, Ms. Gordon worked as a Public Defender in Santa Barbara County, where she handled misdemeanor, felony probation, and juvenile cases from inception to trial. Ms. Gordon’s experience as a Public Defender honed her exceptional negotiation, trial, and motion writing skills. Since 2018, Ms. Gordon worked as a Workers’ Compensation defense attorney representing insured and uninsured employers. Ms. Gordon believed in client-centered representation and always strived to find the most cost-effective approach for her clients. In her free time, Ms. Gordon was involved in several community organizations that focus on promoting nonviolence and progressive change in Santa Barbara County, including NAACP- Executive Committee Lead, Collective Cultures Creating Change (C4) Legal Coordinator, California Relator Association, e Fund- Racial Equity Fund Grant Making Committee -Santa Barbara, California, Member of the California American Bar Association, and Legacy Member of BETA SIGMA PHI.
Kristena L. Gordon joined D’Andre Law at their Canoga Park office in 2021 as an Associate Attorney. In 2024, she birthed and met the love of her life, her son Torian Áse Curtis. She cherished and adored him.
Tena loved reading, going to the beach, and traveling with her sister. She loved people, she loved her community, but most of all she loved her family and friends. Kristena was the world’s best mom, sister, and friend. She was the pinnacle of love and an example of selfless service to others. She would give her last dollar and shirt off her back to anyone in need and never declined to help those less fortunate. Tena always opened her door to everyone and treated everyone like family.
Tena, as she was affectionately known, departed this earthly life for life eternal on Sunday, June 30, 2024 in Bradenton, Florida. She was well loved and will be missed immensely.
Kristena was preceded in death by her grandmother, Florence Gordon. She is survived by her son, Torian, of Santa Maria, CA; her mother, Tarica, of Santa Maria, CA; her grandfather, Curtis Gordon, of Santa Maria, CA; her siblings Kristopher Gordon of Atlanta, GA, Kiashawn Zachery of Suitland, MD, Kiatrell (Meghan) Zachery of Bradenton, FL; her aunt, Lillian (John) Lofton of Riverview, FL; her cousins, Antonio, Shunté, LaMara and Laila and her beloved dog, KoKo, along with a host of family and close friends.
PROCESSIONAL
MUSICAL SELECTION
Order of Service
“Deliver Me ( is is my Exodus)” Tyler Butler-Figureoa
Violinist
“I Shall Wear A Crown” Yolanda DeBerry
SCRIPTURE READING Lillian Lofton
Old Testament
New Testament
PRAYER
MUSICAL SELECTION
“Beauty for Ashes” Jo Ann and Lillian Street
WORDS OF COMFORT Pastor James Earl Cray
MUSICAL SELECTION
“ e Master’s Calling” as recorded by Deborah Winans
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Meghan Zachery
POETRY READINGS
“A Tribute To My Sister”
Kristopher Gordon
Kiatrell Zachery
Kiashawn (Kia) Zachery
OBITUARY (Read silently to soft music)
TRIBUTES (Please limit your time to 2 minutes)
Sonya Haifi
Kimberly Galindo
Jennifer Dinh
Griselda Carreon
Marcus Perry
Lillian Street
LaTasha Lascomb
Friends and Family
MUSICAL TRIBUTE
BETA SIGMA PHI TRIBUTE
“A Tribute to My Cousin” LaMara Lofton
EULOGY Pastor James Earl Cray
RECESSIONAL
“Going Up Yonder” Wanyne Ellington
Sean Simmonds
Interment Private
Pallbearers
Flower Bearers
Acknowledgements
e family of Kristena Gordon wishes to thank each and everyone of you for all the kind deeds performed to make our burden easier to bear. May God continue to bless and keep you all.
Shannon Funeral Home 1015 14th Street West | Bradenton, Florida 34205
Starbuck-Lind Mortuary 123 N. A Street | Lompoc, California 93436
e family is requesting if you have any photos or videos of Tena please send them to: jellybeen2024@gmail.com
is program was designed and printed in loving memory of Tena, by Papered Wonders, Inc.