Ms. Juanita Willingham

Our beloved Juanita Gregory – Willingham was born on January 10, 1932, in Montgomery Alabama to the late Rosa Lee Dukes and Albert B. Dukes. She was educated through the Alabama Public School Systems. On Thursday evening, June 8, 2023, in St. Peter’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Albany, NY she was called from labor to reward.

 Upon relocating to Albany she later met and married Adam “Doc” Willingham on September 25, 1955 and would’ve celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary on September 25, 2023. She joined Mt. Calvary Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Oliver J. Brooks and remained a faithful and supportive member for over fifty (50) years and had earned the endearing name by her church friends as “Miss Daisy”.

 Juanita was very active in her church and loved her church and her pastor(s). Juanita was a faithful member of the Deaconess Ministry for many years until health reasons caused her to resign because she could no longer fulfill her duties as a deaconess. She was also a member of the Forever Young Ministry, Birthday Ministry, and Women’s Guild Ministry. She attended Sunday School, Bible Study, Weekly Worship Services, and special services faithfully. Juanita also supported her church as a faithful tither weekly, and not only did she support Mt. Calvary but she also supported other churches and pastors. She loved to fellowship and simply enjoyed people in general.

 She had an unwavering belief in the power of prayer. Juanita would often say if one prayed with conviction, God would answer. She enjoyed life and lived life on her own terms. She loved to travel, dine, and read. She was an awesome cook too. We all looked forward to eating her delicious potato salad and baked mac & cheese at family gatherings and church dinners.

 To truly know Juanita was to truly love her. She always kept it real, either she liked you or she didn’t. If she loved you, she showed you. However, behind her tough feisty exterior, Juanita was a warm, gentle, sensitive, unselfish, caring, and giving soul, with a big heart of gold.

 She leaves to cherish her memories her loving cousins; Shirley West, Guy West, Carl West (Martha), Tracy West, Michael West (Ivette), Christine West, Terrell Terry, Katina Galloway (Larry), and goddaughter Rose Odom.

 She was pre-deceased by her loving husband, Adam “Doc” Willingham and her loving cousins, Elizabeth West-Jones, Jay C. McCall, Larry West, James Lynn West, and Keith West.

 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness….”  (2 Timothy 4:7,8)

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