Arrangements by Preferred Cremation & Burial. Funeral Services were held on May 4, 2023, at Bethel Baptist Church
Ryan Michele Campbell was born on January 24, 1984, to her parents Mitchell and Theola Campbell in Chicago, IL. At the age of two, The Campbells moved to Chino, CA. At the age of three, Ryan accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized while attending New Hope Baptist Church in Pomona, CA. At the age of five, her parents moved to Poway, CA where she became a member at Mt. Moriah Church, San Diego, CA. Throughout her childhood, Ryan was an active participant in multiple choirs and held leadership roles within the church’s youth group. As an adult, Ryan was a faithful and inspirational member of her parents’ church Release Worship Center in San Diego.
Ryan lived her entire childhood in Poway, attending and graduating from Garden Road Elementary (Class of 1995), Twin Peaks Middle School (Class of 1998), and Poway High School (Class of 2002). During high school, Ryan discovered her love for the Track & Field Team as a Shot Putter, as well as becoming a peer counselor; being emotionally present for her peers. While searching for colleges in her AVID class, she discovered that she wanted to attend an HBCU. Ryan chose to attend Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC, and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science.
After graduating, most of Ryan’s career was working in Higher Education at the Registrar’s Office at Ashford University. She went further to expand her education and received her Master of Education with a specialization in Higher Education Leadership and Administration from Jones International University in 2011. Prior to her passing, Ryan was pursuing her doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University.
Outside of work and school, Ryan loved having her nails done extravagantly, traveling, buying purses and jewelry, and was a major foodie. She also had a love for 90s R&B music, tequila, the Atlanta Falcons, and her alma mater WSSU. Ryan truly enjoyed being a sister and an auntie to her nephews and nieces. Ryan’s love expanded into her community and for those she cared for, giving big sister love to anyone she met. Her infectious smile captured your heart.
Ryan passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2023, in San Diego after her long battle with illness.
Ryan was preceded in death by grandparents Charlie Campbell, Jr., Bernice Garrett Campbell, James Henry Dority Sr., and Jane Suline Dority; three uncles and two aunts: George Lee Spencer, James Henry Dority Jr., William Edward Dority, Patricia Ann Little, and Janie Suline Dority.
Ryan is survived by parents Pastors Mitchell and Theola Campbell; three siblings and their spouses Mitchell, Jr. (Katie), Erin (Kamal), Whitney (Wesley II); three nephews and two nieces Brandon, Makayla, Kamalu, Jr., Ezinne, and Wesley III; two uncles Charles Campbell III (Zora), Alpha Dority (Sandra), and a host of dear friends and loving family members
