Beloved mother, grandmother, devoted wife and pioneering businesswoman, Juanita Ruth Kinsley Jackson, passed peacefully at her home surrounded by family following a nearly 20-year battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 94 years young. Juanita was born in Morgantown, on Nov. 11, 1927, a daughter to George Vincent and Sadie Lucille Joliffe Kinsley.
Juanita is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Jackson Moats and husband Rod; her son, Rick Jackson, and partner Rose DeWitt, all of Morgantown; five grandchildren, Jeremy (Amy) and Jacob (Jennifer) Jackson, Kylee (Dequoy), Noah (Lucy), and Rodney “JR” (Laurie) Moats; 11 great-grandchildren, Jackson, Claire, Colton (Anna) and Mya Moats, Taylor, Tori, Leah and Alyssa Jackson and Zylee, Amelie and Tustin Weaver; and one great-great-grandchild, expected in March.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Richard Jackson; son, Donald Jackson; one sister, Mildred Frum; and four brothers, Lloyd, Robert, David and infant James Vincent Kinsley.
Juanita was a graduate of Morgantown High School and began her career outside of the home with the Monongalia County Board of Education. She managed the Morgantown Livestock Market in 1953. She was the bookkeeper for Jules Kay Jewelers from 1959-63 and then, alongside her husband, owned and operated Jackson Jewelers in Grafton from 1964-81. She then opened Jackson Jewelers in Philippi and continued from 1980 until her retirement in 1996.
While running her businesses, she also sold insurance for Woodmen of the World, managed the Manos Theater and owned and operated Carolyn’s Tots & Teens Dress Shop.
Juanita was very involved in both the Grafton and Philippi communities. She was the former president of the Grafton Business and Professional Women’s Club and the Philippi Area Business Association. She held a seat on the Board of Directors of the Grafton Downtown Revitalization Association, the Barbour Chamber of Commerce and the Grafton Quota Club. She was also a member of the Epsilon Epsilon Sorority and served on various committees of the Mother’s Day Shrine and Philippi Main Street Project.
Immediate family and close friends are invited to the Fred L. Jenkins Funeral Home, from 11 a.m. until the time of services at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22, with Pastor Rose Saunders officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at the Pisgah Cemetery.
The family would like to offer their gratitude to Morgantown Hospice, all directors, Dr. Shrader, Karen and aides and special thanks to Molly, Katie, Brandi, Shannon and Melissa for the compassionate, concerned care given to Ms. Juanita. Extra special thanks to Dena Hall and Carolyn Hunt, who were angels sent at the perfect time to provide professional care that Ms. Juanita so desperately needed during her difficult illness.
Please consider a donation in memory of Juanita to either the Alzheimer’s Association or Morgantown Hospice.
Condolences:
www.fredjenkinsfuneralhome.com
