Aijah La'Shawn Flanders was born on March 10, 2002, in Thomasville, Georgia, to Shaneka Battle and Tray Flanders. She is the third child of her mother and the second of her father. Aijah is the youngest sister to her older siblings, Joby Crawford Jr. and Alaynna Flanders, and big sister to Travarrion Flanders Jr. Before she was born, her big brother Joby affectionately nicknamed her “Cupcake.” Raised in her maternal grandparents' home, Aijah was raised with strong Christian values and surrounded by unconditional love. She attended First Unity Missionary Baptist Church with her family, where she began serving in the Lord’s Kingdom at an early age. Aijah sang in the youth choir and, along with her sister. On Wednesday nights during Bible Study, Cupcake was a leader in her class, confidently standing before the church congregation to share commentary on class lessons. Inspired by her sister Laynna, she was baptized at six years old.

Aijah excelled in school, consistently earning good grades and holding herself to a high standard of behavior. In 2009, she moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, with her mom, brother Joby, and sister Alaynna, where church, school, and family continued to be the foundation of her upbringing. In Fairbanks, Cupcake discovered her love for basketball and completed her first elementary cross-country race, proudly placing and winning a medal. Throughout her school years, she played basketball and ran track while maintaining Honor Roll status.

She and her family moved back to the Lower 48 from Alaska to Hinesville and later McDonough, Georgia. She graduated from Dutchtown High School in 2020. Upon graduating from High School, Aijah received 13 different College accepted letters with making the decision to attend Kennesaw State with her best friend, Essence Oliphant. She later met Jakouri Holmes, her sophomore year of college, while working a summer job in 2021. They instantly fell in love and became inseparable. Their relationship blossomed and they both encouraged each other to go after their dreams. He encouraged Aijah to obtain her passport, and they quickly started to travel the world together. They traveled the world together, visiting Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St Maarten, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, the Bahamas, Mexico, and more.

In 2025 Aijah graduated from Kennesaw State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, while working at Delta Community Credit Union. She was known as a senior bank teller in such a small time because of her love and dedication to her Delta family, whom she admired dearly. Aijah was able to excel within the company, receiving multiple raises and promotions. She was promoted from a bank teller to a member service agent. She was devoted to serving her regular customers who knew that if they got in her line for assistance, they would be leaving with a smile.

Towards the end of 2024 Aijah, her mom Shaneka and her sister Alaynna joined Christian Life Center Church in Rex Georgia where she was able to find a community that led her closer to Christ and freedom in her worship. Aijah along with her sister started participating in an intimate bible study where a group of eight to ten young women would meet every other Wednesday to have bible study and relate the stories to everyday life. Aijah was able to see that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ was the key to life, and she began to stand firm in her faith. Aijah was such a blessing to everyone. She had a smile that would light up any and every room with the personality to match it. She was a true Angel here on Earth. God called her home to Heaven July 12, 2026.

Aijah (Cupcake) leaves to mourn her departure her Mother Shaneka Battle, Father Tray Flanders, Brother Joby Crawford Jr., Sister Alaynna Flanders, Brother Travarion Flanders Jr., Boyfriend Jakouri Holmes, Grandmother Sandra Davis, Grandfather Jerome Flanders and his wife Maria Flanders, Aunt Shauna Battle, Uncle Todd Davis, Mother In-law Tavia Belton, Bonus Parent Gene Remus, Cousin group The Alaskan Crew, Best Friend Essence Oliphant, Sister In-Law Tomara Crawford, Nieces Kaylen Clayton, Joi Crawford, Ja’Loni Crawford and Nephew Joby Crawford lll, Her Delta Community family and a host of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Great Aunts and Great Uncles 2nd and 3rd cousins; with a great number of friends and loved ones.