October 3, 2007 was the first day Anthony called Ericka’s home, after receiving her number from a mutual friend. Just days before he called her, he approached her on the dance floor at Crockett Technical High School’s Homecoming dance. Ericka danced with her friends as Anthony noticed and was enticed by her moves. When he introduced his hands to her waist, her friends gave her the nod of approval; and they’ve been giving him the okay ever since. From that phone call forward, the two grew to be intimate friends. The uncontrollable, passionate, genuine love they shared with one another, and the fact that Anthony was warned by his mother not to let Ericka leave for college without making her his girlfriend, led Anthony to asking Ericka to be his girlfriend August 29, 2009. In 2010, their relationship was challenged when Ant was arrested and went away for 10yrs. During this time they spoke regularly, Ericka visited him often, regardless of what prison they moved him to- sometimes with the commute being 6 hours one way. The few hours they spent during visits is where the couple created their foundation. Listening to one another’s thoughts, learning each other’s moods and challenging their ideas. They spent the years growing individually, yet together, and their love grew even more profoundly with the time. Exploring the unconditionality of love assured the couple that their relationship was much more than just intimacy; but that they were patnas. Friends who were exceedingly invested in what they built. The time Ericka did with Ant meant the world to him, and he made sure she was aware of that- never failing to invest in her spiritually and emotionally. In 2020 the couple was reunited and they continued to invest in their partnership- they loved, they traveled, they bought their first home, and became one. The couple is affectionately referred to as “a power couple”, by Ant’s father. Led by God and good faith, on November 26, 2024, Anthony asked for Ericka’s hand in marriage. And now they ask you to join them as they solidify their union before God, family and friends.