Little Miss Kennidee Paige Cotton

December 5, 2011 - March 9, 2021

Little Miss Kennidee Paige Cotton, age 9, transitioned from this life to her heavenly home at 2:15 am on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center ER. Kennidee was born in Peoria, IL on December 5, 2011 to Meshai D. Talley and the late Marques Lewis-Cotton. She attended Thomas Jefferson Primary School from Pre-K to 3rd Grade, where she excelled academically. She last attended Banner Elementary in Dunlap, IL where she also was an exceptional student. Kennidee was a very loving, happy and joyous child. She demanded attention and loved everyone she came in contact with and they couldn’t help but love her back. She was motherly, funny, playful, full of energy and life. She was a free spirit. She loved watching You-Tube; music, dancing, singing and rapping. She truly enjoyed all the simple things that most of us take for granted, ie eating , smiling and just waking up! She touched so many lives in her short 9 years here in this world. She was so grateful for each new day. Kennidee leaves to cherish her most precious memory, her mother, Meshai Talley of Peoria, IL; maternal grandmother, Yvetta King of Peoria, IL; paternal grandparents, Rosetta (Ezell) Hardimon of Peoria, IL and Asa (Jamie) Lewis of Stockbridge, GA; two brothers, Decymeon Cotton of Peoria, IL and Marques Cotton of Atlanta, GA; five sisters, Marley Talley, Kennidee’s twin sister, Kylee Cotton and Kah’Lyce Nunn all of Peoria, IL Martajah Cotton and Markia Smith both of Atlanta, GA; uncles, Melvin (Patricia) Talley, Montelle (Aaliyah) Talley, Marquiese Talley, Lamar Formon and Kelvin Patterson all of Peoria, IL; aunts, Chinesia King, Tandra Cotton, Nakjeya Cotton and Demeisha Cotton all of Peoria, IL and a host of other family and many friends. She is preceded in death by her father and maternal grandfather, Melvin Talley, Sr. A private funeral service will be held at 12 noon on Friday, March 19, 2021 at Victory Christian Church with a visitation one-hour prior beginning at 11 am. Host Pastor is Rev. Chuck Brown. Bishop Timothy Criss, Pastor of Greater City of Refuge Worship Cathedral, will officiate. Kennidee will be laid to rest at Swan Lake Memory Gardens. Simons Mortuary was entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at simonsmortuary.com. The service will be live streamed on Simons Mortuary's Website or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Simons-Mortuary-232095303487150 promptly AT THE TIME OF THE SERVICE. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, social distancing and attendance limits will be observed. In accordance with the Illinois Department of Public Health, Funerals are limited to no more than 25% or less people at the church. To be consistent with recommendations from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), funeral home directors have been instructed and should follow CDC guidelines on gatherings, including those directly related to funerals, visitations, or graveside services. Funerals are limited to no more than 25% of the decedent’s immediate family members. *In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we ask that everyone in attendance: wear a face mask and refrain from hugging, kissing and shaking hands (as hard as it is to see someone you care about and not touch them). *It is our responsibility as a Funeral Directors, to do everything we can to advise families in order to honor our beloved Families and to keep everyone as safe as possible. The sanctuary can socially distance and seat no more than 25% or less people. All others will be able to flow through prior to beginning of the service. Thanks in advance for your cooperation!