Layla Adaway, 14, Jonesboro, passed away at 3:54am on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the Gas City Park in Gas City. She was born in Marion, Indiana, on June 22, 2012, to Jessica Kirby and Shawndell Adaway, Sr.
Layla was a freshman at Mississinewa High School in Gas City, Indiana, she also attended Encore Dance Academy for dance classes in Fairmount, Indiana.
Layla was all about hair, cooking, makeup, nails, dance, Taco Bell, and Alani energy drinks. She loved to facetime her friends and do crazy makeup, just to make her friends laugh. That was just the kind of person she was. Friends have shared stories stating that if Layla saw that you were sad, she would do anything in her power to make you smile and laugh.
To know Layla was to love Layla. She was passionate about love. She was loud, proud, intelligent, sweet, and above all else, she was kind. She had hundreds of people at her candlelight vigil sharing stories amongst each other about times Layla had defended them from bullying, cheered them up on hard days, and listened to them talk about issues they were facing.
Layla had a fiery soul, with an attitude to match. She was always described as spunky, especially as a child. She has been sassy since birth.
Left to mourn her love and light are her mother, Jessica Kirby (Yousef); her father, Shawndell (Tena) Adaway; her siblings, Myquea Mills, Mallory (Holly) Myers-Smith, Tamaria Manley, Mckinzie Kirby (Michael), Shawndell (Jenson) Adaway, Jr., Charleigh (Bradley) Downing, Paisha (Shawntaia) Matherly; step-siblings, Brittany (Levi) Mosby, Amber Bailey; grandparents, Michael (Bonnie) Webb, Maureen (Alan) Perkins; and her very close nieces & nephews, River Myers, Keagan Mosby, Aleyah Bailey, Grayson Nelson (Manley), Oakleigh Nelson (Manley), Kayson Adaway, Izabella Adaway, Raiden Jackson (Manley), Bentlee Adaway, Zaydyn Kirby, Amiyah Bailey, Finley Downing, Arya Eakins; and many others including, aunts, uncles, & cousins.
She was preceded in death by her grandmothers, Beatrice Adaway, Shirley Borisenko; uncle, Rovon Adaway; grandfathers, Odell Wright, Hugh Green; nephews, Kyson Nelson (Manley), Xavier Bailey; and her lifelong dog, Mijah a.k.a BooBoo Kirby.
Layla’s family will be accepting visitors on Monday, September 28, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Exit Church, 1015 E. Main St., Gas City, Indiana 46933.
Immediately following the visitation, a funeral service to honor Layla’s life will begin at 4:00 pm.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, Storey Chapel 400 E. Main St., Gas City, IN.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
To send flowers to the family of Layla Nicole Adaway, please visit our floral store.