Ariana Taylor Guajardo

Ariana Taylor Guajardo (Dawson), 24, of Carrollton, VA died unexpectedly on December 20, 2021 from injuries sustained in an auto accident.  She was driving to work and at 7:27am was struck head-on.  Her loss is completely unexpected and everyone is in shock and deeply saddened as Ariana was such an uplifting soul to all whom she knew; she loved her people fiercely and threw her heart and soul into every venture she took from her military career to her relationships with family and friends alike.  Ariana was born on March 15, 1997 to Sandra and Paul Dawson at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Baltimore Maryland and as a baby was always smiling.  Ariana attended Grace Lutheran for her primary education and graduated from Yulee High School with honors where she was a member of Beta Club, National Honor Society, and Gay-Straight Alliance.   She competed in volleyball, basketball, track and field, earned her CNA license while at YHS and gave all to her friends.  She loved helping others through different community outreaches including the Special Olympics, Gracie's Kitchen and visiting elderly residents in nursing homes to name a few.  Shortly after graduating high school, Ariana joined the United States Navy to become a Nuclear Electrician and earned many recognitions including The Admirals Coin, given to the top graduate of her Nuclear A School class.  She was very involved with animal rescues, brought on in her teen years of watching 'Pit Bulls and Parolees' and she spent time rescuing and caring for pit bulls and horses including her beloved horses Spike, Buck, Abe, Rue, and Vinny and beloved dogs Magnolia, Sammy, Tyson.  She was always a source of positivity, love, and compassion to everyone she came across.  Anyone who knew Ariana, knew she was kind, loving, caring, warm, brilliant, awesome, wonderful and was always able to put smiles on others' faces. She was a light in so many lives and her infectious smile and laugh could light up any room. Ariana was most importantly passionate about her family, especially her husband Joey and two children, 3-year-old Barry and one year old Nora.  Ariana is survived by her husband of five years, Joey Guajardo, children Barry and Nora, mother Sandra Dawson, father Paul Dawson, second mom Shelly Dawson, sisters and best friends Celeste Riddick and Bianca Dawson, brother in laws Parker Riddick and Zach Guajardo, sister in law Hanna Guajardo, maternal grandparent Carmella Celeste, paternal grandparents John and Lu Dawson, Aunts Jennifer Redifer, Veronica Strum, Diana Carlton, Christina Celeste, Melissa Hamilton, Uncles Marc Dawson, Don Carlton, Andrew Strum, Tung Bui, Rosario Carnevale, close friends Ma Cantu, Kashia Monteith, Rachel Engrem, Vic Thornton and many more important family and friends who will miss her more than words can say.  She had many mentors who impacted her positively and whom she admired. Michael Popp at Grace Lutheran, Ethan Dombkowski at Yulee High, Victoria Natasha Reasor Nelson at the United States Navy and family friend Melissa Rooney are those that she spoke of most.  Ariana's big passion was Trails of Purpose, an outreach equine therapy for members of the military needing mental health support.  Please donate HERE in her name and in her memory.  Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com.