Juanita Jackson Giddens

Funeral Monday May 22,2017 11am Greater Travelers 4650 Flat Shoals Pkwy, Decatur, Ga 30034. Burial Westview Cemetery. Visitation Sunday 12-5 - Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home 4347 Flat Shoals Parkway Decatur GA 30034 Juanita Jackson Giddens a delightful, proud, honorable, virtuous, exquisite, classy, loving, obedient, talented and God loving mother, grand-mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend made her advent into this world on February 21, 1934. She was the fourth born of eight children born to the late Henry and Bessie Watkins Jackson. Three brothers, Eddie, Oliver, and Henry Jr. Jackson, and one sister, Estelle Jackson Hollins, who transitioned in January, 2017, preceded her in death. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama where she matriculated in the Birmingham Public Schools, Butler Elementary and a member of the 74th Class of 1951 of the A. H. Parker High School. Education has always been an important component in the Jackson family and Juanita exceled during her matriculation in grade school. She skipped two grades! Because Juanita grew up in a family that recognized the value of religious and moral training, she was baptized at an early age and maintained membership at the New Hope Baptist Church under Rev. Jenkins and later Rev. Herman Stone. She remained there until her early adult years where she then became a member of the First Baptist Church Kingston, where she saw to it that all of her children were baptized under Rev. Dixon. Juanita moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1972 and has always maintained a deep rooted connection to worship for her entire life. She was a member of the Cathedral of Faith. Continuing to worship in the same edifice, she joined The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Jr. Because of her faithfulness, her family became members of this house, also. Juanita was a faithful Sunday School attendee as well as a faithful member of the Mothers Ministry. On December 21, 1951, Juanita married Alfred Giddens and to this union four children were born, Alfred Jr., Cynthia, Vincent, and Harvey. Juanita LOVED her children so passionately and made many sacrifices to insure that they wanted for NOTHING! After the marriage ended in divorce in 1963, she became a young single mother of four children. She learned to be self-sufficient and could fix anything that was broken! She was not an overbearing strict mother, but she laid the law down enough to her children whereas she NEVER had to visit any of her three boys or daughter in a jail or prison. She did not scare easily from modern technology. At 83 years of age, she had her own laptop, desktop, iPad, headphones, printers, fax, scanners; you name it, she tried it and was very successful in using them! And yes, she emailed and downloaded documents, too. Well into her seventies, Juanita cut her own grass and she PUSHED the lawn mower over her massive front and back yards. Juanita was very fun loving and loved to entertain company. She got the most joy from seeing other people happy and being in the company of her family, i.e., her children, grandchildren, sisters and brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She believed in being totally organized. This was evident from the impeccable home that she kept, to the recordings of all the data associated with her work-outs in her home gym. Her attention to meticulous details and record keeping was further evidence of her impeccable organizational skills. Her natural God- given talents allowed her to be recognized as one of the best workers in the different departments she has worked in. She was employed by the Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., the Atlanta City Government, and the Internal Revenue Service. She retired from the IRS on December 10, 2000. A virtuous woman full of grace and class will always be remembered for her exquisite style in dressing, the crowns of glory that adorned her head every Sunday, and the implanted smile on her face. After a valiant fight against renal failure, God saw fit to end this Earthly Life Journey and said to Juanita, “Come on home, my child. Your work on Earth is done”. Juanita peacefully transitioned on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14, 2017 at 7:30 PM in the arms of her first born, surrounded by her children and caregiver, Ms. Johnny Russell. She left her indelible footprints of memories and her legacy to carry in the hearts of her children, Alfred Giddens, Jr. (Betty) Lithonia, GA, Cynthia Giddens Hunter (Forrest), Carson, California, Vincent Giddens (Gwendolyn), Stone Mountain, GA, Harvey (Wendy), Atlanta, GA; nine (9) grandchildren, fourteen (14) great grandchildren, one great-great grandson; three sisters, Addie Jackson Payne, Atlanta, GA, Dorothy Jackson Christian (William), Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Patricia Jackson, Birmingham, AL; three very devoted nieces, Jennifer Jackson Brooks, Birmingham, AL, LaRita Payne Dixon (Nathaddis), Covington, GA, Alicia Payne, Atlanta, GA; four great nephews and one great niece; a host of loving cousins, extended family, neighbors and friends. To God Be The Glory For The Things He Has Done- Amen

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Juanita Jackson Giddens

February 21, 1934 - May 14, 2017