(January 29, 2010) A loved one was ripped away with no explanation for the friends and family of a Conyers resident and stylist more than two weeks ago.

Late Friday, there was still no closure for those close to Jarmecca “Nikki” Whitehead, after she was found stabbed to death on Jan. 14. But there now will be a time to mourn their loss and pay respect to the woman who was described as a loving mother, passionate friend and a “fashionista.”

The wake for Whitehead will be held on Sunday at Donald Trimble Mortuary on Second Ave. in Decatur at 6 p.m. There will be a funeral held the next day at Greater Traveler’s Rest Baptist Church in Decatur at 11 a.m.

All that is known to this point is Whitehead’s twin high-school aged daughters came home from school to discover their mother’s body. They then flagged down a Rockdale County Deputy who happened to be in the Bridle Ridge Walkway subdivision serving a warrant on an unrelated case.

Following what was ruled as a homicide, a search went out for a vehicle believed to be witnessed at the scene of the crime, but no arrest was made.

Conyers Police Chief David Cathcart said there had been no arrests and no updates to report but that investigators were working through the case to make sure all the “I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed.”

That didn’t stop the family and friends from gathering together, reaching out and remembering what was a life of optimism, spirit and fashion for the 34-year old beautician.

Last Wednesday friends and family held a candlelight vigil in the Bridle Ridge Walk to gather in her honor and try to piece together what happened and why.

“She was a very loving, passionate person, one that tried to reach out and help,” said Petrina Sims owner of Simply Unique, the salon where Whitehead worked. “She was very humble. She was like a bright star. When she came in the room, she lit up the room.”

Whitehead was raised in Decatur and been living with her boyfriend, Robert Head in Conyers.

“Robert loved her unconditionally,” said close friend Yucca Harris, who had known Whitehead for more than 20 years. “Nikki was a young girl. He was an older man. I never saw anything to go wrong in their relationship.

“He was very supportive of her. He wanted her to better herself as a person.”
Whitehead seemed to always be trying to better herself, and was attending Bauder College studying fashion with the desire to become a fashion consultant and designer.
“She was known as a trend setter, a fashionista, funky and one of a kind,” Harris said. “She was full of life.”

“She had her own little style, but she was very trendy,” Sims said. “We used to admire the things she would wear.”

That style reflected her personality and how she interacted with her friends.
The life of Whitehead will be reflected on and celebrated once again in Decatur Sunday and Monday.

“She wasn’t shy. If she didn’t know you, she would make it her business to know you. Especially the people she worked with,” said. Marvis Smith, a hairstylist at Pucci’s Coiffeurs.

“Never in a million years did I think this would have happened to her.”