Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

On January 20, 2024, Rynikka, 26, peacefully departed this life for life eternal, surrounded by family and loved ones singing and praising God at the Bowers Hospice House after a life-long yet courageous battle with diabetes.

Rynikka McDowell born on October 17, 1997, was the youngest daughter born to Amy Denise (McDowell) Pannell, and the late Corey Pannell.

“Nikka” was educated in the Raleigh County school system, graduating from Woodrow Wilson in 2016.

Despite her illness, Nikka was a go-getter. She worked at Ibex Global, and while living in Morgantown for a short time she worked at Kroger’s and held a job at the Beckley Travel Plaza. When her health prevented her from working outside the home, she became an entrepreneur selling her famous pepperoni rolls. Rynikka had such an infectious smile and a witty and comical sense of humor. She was the prime example of never giving up, although on a regiment of dialysis, she along with her ride-or-die (her mom) boarded a plane this past summer to spend the annual vacation with her family in Destin, FL. We are so blessed to have had this time with her.

An important lesson that Rynikka taught all of us is that no matter what we face in life, there is nothing more important than having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She demonstrated this by giving her life to Jesus and was baptized on June 7, 2009, and becoming a member of God’s House of Miracles! To God Be the Glory!

In addition to her father, Rynikka was preceded in death by her grandmother, Carolyn McDowell; great-grandmother, Corinne Pannell; grandfather, Earnest (Rock) Dillard; sister, Ariel Payne; nephew, Cameron Croner; uncles, Mason Pannell and Robert McDowell; great-uncle, Elder Roger Jones; God-daughter, Lauren Scott; and special cousin, William Carson.

Left to cherish her life and memory are her mother, Amy McDowell-Pannell (Jerry Johnson); sisters, Romira McDowell and Rashonda McDowell (Earl Croner); brothers, Rommie Baker, Devin Gill, Taja Hardy, Justin Badulala, and Joshua Toney; grandmother, Grace Pannell-Dillard; aunts, Aurelia (Kipling) Garrick, Alice Pannell, Yvette Mitchell, Lisa Walton, Debra Pennix and Tanya McDowell; uncles, Alex McDowell (Rayna Guy); Kelvin (LaShara) Pannell; Talbert “Buster” Pannell; Valious (Valerie) and Dewey Phillips; nephews, Keigan and Kolten Tucker, Liam Harvey, and soon to make her arrival a niece, Emeryn Croner; great-aunts, Bishop Eunice Jones and Patricia McDowell; cousins, who were raised with her as sisters and brothers, Briana, Ebony, McKenzie, Jazlynn, Shenelle, Michelle, Isaiah, Brenton, Breland, Mario, and Darelle; best friends, Adrienne and Janay; God-daughter, London Scott; her loving animal companion, Blue, and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends, who, while too numerous to name, she loved dearly.

Funeral service will be 1:00PM Friday, February 2, 2024 at Heart of God Ministries 1703 S. Kanawha St. Beckley with Bishop Eunice Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Beckley.

Friends, while wearing masks and observing social distancing, may view and visit with the family one-hour prior.

Email condolences to ritchiejohnsonfuneralparlor@gmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.