Celebration of Life
Whitney Nicole Vaughns
Sunrise June 25, 1987 - Sunset May 14, 2023

Whitney Nicole Vaughns was born June 25, 1987 in Aurora, Colorado and received her primary education in Aurora Public Schools. Being raised with her older brother Marcus, Whitney was very active and a bit of a tomboy. Being the younger sibling, she developed a spirit of competition and found love in playing basketball, volleyball and running track in elementary school. In high school she lettered in three sports and music with thirteen letters. Her senior year of high school, she was named athlete of the year. She continued to compete into her adulthood playing intramural volleyball and basketball.

Whitney was raised in the church and attended New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church. As a child she developed her relationship with Christ worshiping in several youth ministries. She participated regularly in the youth choir, as an usher and in many summer youth programs. At the age of seven she proclaimed her faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized by her Pastor Reverend John J. Young.

After graduating from Hinkley High School in 2005, Whitney continued her education and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice at the University of Northern Colorado in 2009. She later earned her Master’s degree in Education at the University of Denver in 2017.

On Aug. 30, 2014, Whitney married Julius Vaughns. They first met in 2001 at Hinkley in Aurora, Colorado. They exchanged vows at St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado. On April 10, 2019, they were blessed with a baby girl Miss Jailynn Nicole. Whitney always kept family as a top priority, and she went above and beyond in her greatest role as a mother. She would often say her daughter made her feel complete, and Whitney and Julius shared an unmistakable passion for teaching Jailynn about life and loving her unconditionally.

Traveling, dancing and listening to music were some of Whitney’s favorite hobbies. She always enjoyed to entertain and bring friends and family together for fellowship. And she could really get busy in the kitchen. Thanks to things she learned from her father, cooking brought joy, peace and happiness to her.

Whitney has always had a passion for helping people, especially children and youth. As early as elementary school, she had a strong desire to become a conflict manager, and in high school, she became a peer counselor. Whitney’s career included roles with Betty K. Marler Youth Services Center and Denver Health Youth and Adult Psychiatric Units. She also worked as a middle and high school Special Education teacher with Denver Public Schools at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College and Denver School of Science and Technology. Whitney’s passion and commitment to her work has made an impact in her community and is clearly documented in the many testimonies from her colleagues, students, friends and family. Whitney served her community well and has walked in the calling that God ordained for her. Whitney surely will be missed but not forgotten.

Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her passing include husband Julius Vaughns; daughter Jailynn Vaughns; parents Darrell and Tracey Smith; brother Marcus A. Arnold; mother and father-in-law Pamela Vaughns and Steven Vaughns; sister-in-law Tiera Vaughns; and many relatives and friends.