Rachael Leigh Etheridge

Rachael Leigh Etheridge, our bright shining light, our joyful and beautiful oldest child, passed away unexpectedly and entered into God's loving embrace on January 2, 2024 at the age of 32. We, as her family members, are in deep mourning but through our tears we can thank God for the life we had with this remarkable young woman who touched the hearts of so many people. Rachael was born on May 9, 1991 in Sarasota, Florida to her parents Jeffery and Lisa Etheridge. She was born five and a half weeks early which we soon discovered was a first glimpse into her vivacious and lively personality. She was a delightful and active child who made friends easily, and early on she developed a great love for animals. She was a protective and loving sister and served as a role model for her brother Evan and sister Natalie. She moved with her family to Albany, Georgia at age six and quickly made friends and participated in a dizzying array of interests including tennis, art, running and church activities from the time she entered Lake Park Elementary School until she graduated with honors from Westover High School. While in high school she participated in Girls State, won countless art awards, ran cross country and was a regional doubles tennis champion. Upon graduation she attended The University of Georgia where she majored in Psychology and was a member of Delta Gamma sorority. She not surprisingly graduated from UGA a year early and immediately began law school, graduating with a Juris Doctor from UGA in 2015. Always curious, creative, gifted, enthusiastic, relentlessly determined, talented and possessing a heart of gold, Rachael was born to be a leader and a tireless advocate for the less fortunate. It was after law school she discovered her passion as a criminal defense attorney. She was employed at the Rural Public Defenders' Office, first in Terrell, Texas and later in Lubbock, Texas. There, she developed strong bonds with many of her colleagues as she learned to hone her legal skills. She was known as a devoted attorney who was there for her clients as she sought to defend their rights and highlight mitigating factors. Rachael gave her all to anything she took on. She had varied and diverse interests from tennis to horseback riding to creating pottery and she was an amazing pet parent to her menagerie of beloved pets. She was also a loyal and giving daughter, sister and friend who enjoyed sharing her beautiful artistic gifts with those she loved. Rachael was briefly married and was later engaged; she maintained friendships with her former husband Richard Nuskind and partner Afshin Zand. Rachael was cherished and deeply loved "Infinity Times Forever" by her family, and we take comfort in knowing she is at peace with God. Rachael is survived by her parents, Jeffery and Lisa of Tallahassee, FL; her siblings Evan Etheridge (Maria) of Tallahassee, FL; Natalie Abbott (Will) of Albany, GA; her grandmother Clara Etheridge of Tallahassee, FL; her aunts and uncles Michael and Lynne Traver of Sarasota FL; Scott and Bonnie Etheridge of Cape Coral, FL; Darin and Carole Ann Chappell of Springfield MO; Eric Chappell and Ryan Lewis of Wilton Manors, FL; Laurie Etheridge and Jason Turner of San Rafael, CA; Dwight and Kara Amstutz of Strafford, MO; her cousins Anna Hietalati; Eric Traver; Sydney Etheridge; Mitchell Etheridge; Harrison Turner; Melissa Roberts; Sarah Shrable; Clayton Chappell; Kayleigh Amstutz; Kamryn Amstutz; Dawson Amstutz and Drew Amstutz; and several great aunts and great uncles. She also leaves a multitude of colleagues at the RPDO and countless friends including special friends Keri Mallon, Philip Wischkaemper and Scott Scarborough. She is predeceased by her grandmother Donna Lou Traver Smith and her grandfathers Donald K. Traver and Marvin D. Etheridge. There will be two services: A memorial service will be held in Lubbock, Texas on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 10am at Sanders Funeral Home, 1420 Main Street, Lubbock. A funeral service will be held in Tallahassee, FL on January 13, 2024 at 11:00 am at Pisgah United Methodist Church, 7000 Pisgah Church Rd, Tallahassee, FL. If you wish to make a donation in Rachael's memory, you may do so to one of the following charities: The Open Door Homeless Day Shelter in Lubbock, Texas The Carpenter's Kitchen at Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas Morris Safe House Animal Shelter in Lubbock, Texas

Rachael Leigh Etheridge

May 9, 1991 - January 2, 2024