Shandelia "Shay" Marie Peters, born on July 19th, 1984, succumbed to a long struggle with mental illness on Monday January 6th, 2025. Shay grew up in Gulfport, Florida with her immediate surviving family - father Stephen Lewis Peters, mother Karen Marie Lamarand, and brother Adam Stephen Peters - as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins, a (late) great grandmother Ada Simpson, her surviving godparents Elizabeth and Micheal Graziano, and many neighborhood friends that became lifelong friends.

Known for her sharp intellect, cleverness and 'where there is a will, there is a Shay' attitude, Shandelia was loved and supported by many, and like so many people impacted by severe mental illness, had a difficult time letting the love and support of others inside her heart.


Shay's love language was Acts of Service, and she spent much of her life in recovery working hard to help others manage the struggles she knew so well. As a result, she has touched many lives, sharing her love and determination with others in her own way. She knew great loss in many forms because of her own struggles and because of the nature of the calling she answered to help others fighting their own battles of addiction, depression and other forms of mental illness.


Growing up, Shay loved sleepovers, board games (especially when she won), music and pushing the limits. Unfortunately, Shandelia's struggles began at an early age, and it is the sincerest wish of her family that she is at peace now, able to recover and move on from a challenging and difficult lifetime. We love her dearly, always.


Shandelia is also survived by her biological daughter Summer Elizabeth Graziano (nee Summer Lorelai Spencer), as well as her stepmother Marsha Peters, stepsister Loria Bennings and stepbrother Paul Smith. She is preceded in death by her late husband David Spencer.


We will be remembering Shay on Saturday January 25th at the Blueberry Patch in Gulfport Florida (4923 20th Avenue South Gulfport, FL 33707). For many years, the Blueberry Patch has been a safe haven for people like Shay who felt like they didn't fit in anywhere else. Celebrating there would have meant a lot to her.


Relatives are invited to join beginning at 11a, friends may join us at 12p, and we will share this space until 2p. Shandelia had fond memories of the Blueberry Patch, and in lieu of flowers or other gifts, we are requesting Shay's family and friends consider donating to the Hurricane Recovery fundraiser for Blueberry Patch as they were severely damaged during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. Donations are being collected via a Go Fund Me: https://gofund.me/01f5bbe8 - we know getting the Blueberry Patch back up and running to its full glory is something Shay would have really wanted and loved. Thank you to all who loved her and always will.