Juanita Mary Wallace

Juanita Wallace lived to be 100 years old. During her time on this Earth the eventful XX Century displayed World War I and II, Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japanese Internment Camps in the United States, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Historical Black Colleges and Universities, the Civil Rights Movement and Act, Wounded Knee, the first steps of man on the moon, color television, the computer and internet, great men and women who served as role models to humanity, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chvez, Leonard Peltier, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, Dinaah Washington, Dorothy Dandridge, the election &re-election of the first African American President, Barack Obama for whom Juanita voted exercising her rights as an African American woman. She was born, Juanita Young on February 5, 1913 to Frank and Fannie in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Even though Abolition of Slavery was formally abolished in 1864, Juanita was the second of seven siblings. They were to grow up in a racially segregated country opposed to equality for African Americans. Her parents met at an Indian Reservation where her mother resided. After their marriage, they worked as maid and butler in Wichita, Kansas; forcing them to leave behind Juanita and siblings with the maternal grandmother. Frank and Fannie returned ten years later when the youngest child was in elementary school. Juanita must have been twelve, and she was delighted to be reunited with her parents. She already knew that she did not want her life to be such a hard struggle. Oklahoma City was experiencing quick changes during President Hoover's administration, particularly during Juanita's teenage years. In 1928, oil wells were a prominent part of the city landscape, but few benefited. Nevertheless, many people flooded the area in search of better opportunities. Frank and Fannie always emphasized the importance of education among their children. Juanita was cognizant of this and accomplished academic success even when having to pick cotton during harvest months. During WWII, Juanita relocated to Los Angeles, California where she experienced a renascence of music among African Americans. Under the melodic voices of Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald, she went on to pursue her dreams. She performed variety of jobs, and enrolled in cosmetology school. She graduated along 39 African American women wearing the smiles of achievement. Juanita went on to have her own business in L.A. She shared her success with parents, inviting them to spend time with her and to enjoy the Los Angeles area. They would go fishing and bring their catch home; their stories in L. A. were told over and over in their home communities in Oklahoma City. Juanita married Harry C. Wallace in her late thirties. She is the mother of Harry Jr. and Tracey. Harry owned variety of Cadillac cars throughout their marriage, a big deal for a black man in those days! Many pictures were taken in front of these cars. Juanita and Harry rejoiced in their jobs. He owned a service station (Atlantic Richfield - ARCO) until his health failed, and it was then when they returned to Oklahoma. Once in Oklahoma Juanita worked as a nurse until she too, experienced health problems. As a resilient woman, she would not stop working. Juanita took a job as a seamstress at a garment factory for over ten years. She also worked as a Head Start teacher, for Juanita loved children and also served as a foster parent on regular basis throughout her life. In her later years before retiring she worked as a companion to elders. This was a way for Juanita to honor her ancestors. She inherited their ability to tell great stories, where one could learn about Juanita's different sense of humor. We all fear it has been inherited by Tracey and her daughter Rorie! Juanita's energy, resilience and optimism were qualities that served as a pillar of strength to her. At the age of eighty, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a radical mastectomy. Juanita was able to recover and to continue engaging in good deeds. Juanita loved to travel and to discover new places. Once her daughter Tracey graduated from the University of Oklahoma, and would join her in beautiful cities. Juanita visited Per, México, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Saint Croix-Virgin Islands and traveled throughout the USA. She kept great memories and scrapbooks, but throughout the years, Juanita would throw "things" away. She never kept things For too long. She even threw away all the furniture in the house during her children's high school years! Why? She had gotten tired of looking at the same furniture over and over! She calmed Tracey by saying, "We will eventually get some new furniture"; and she did buy some nicer pieces! Harry Jr. was the apple of mom's the eye! He enjoyed the arts. He was a musician by vocation and training. He excelled playing the saxophone. Once he exhausted his music opportunities in high school, Harry Jr. joined the marines at the age of eighteen. He never gave up playing even when in the military. He played with different bands and at church. Juanita was very supportive of his efforts and decisions. After a motorcycle accident he returned to Oklahoma, and has worked in the correctional system & security services. uanita cherished her time as a grandma'. Her gifts were and are Tanisha, Harry III, Corday, Rorie, and Isaiah. Grandma' imparted her wisdom on all of them in variety of ways. Rorie at the age of eight was able to visit folks in nursing homes without fearing their -sometimes- erratic ways. She bonded with Juanita and understood how elders were to be treated and respected. Tanisha, as the oldest grandchild was recipient of Juanita's first-loving blessings. Harry III developed the taste for good food and is a chef in Louisiana. Corday played drums and baseball always making grandma' proud for his love of music. He now resides in Oklahoma City. Rorie is the mischievous and fun nine-year old who could not stop looking at pictures of grandma for this program. Isaiah is the biblical name of the Prophet whose words we remember today. Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Juanita loved animals, but feared them all! Maybe, the goat leading a kiddie cart she once rode tried to chew her shoes! Nevertheless, when visiting Tracey and Robert in St. Croix, she managed to climb up a ladder to ride a horse on the beach! She even went in the water with the horse! What a character she was! As a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, and a friend, Juanita was a devoted and kind individual who took charge of any situation facing her. She displayed great confidence, pride and dignity, and took time to be an elegant lady, wearing colorful clothes with distinct touches of jewelry and accessories. That is how we remember Juanita, and we can only imagine her floating in the notes of the music of her times. Juanita spent her last years in Houston, Texas with her daughter Tracey and family. The house is filled with memorabilia from all of Tracey's world-travels. There were two items that really make Juanita's day. It was a Nigerian weaving spool and a sculpture of a medicine man -an Elegua- who opens the path of life. Juanita allowed God and her ancestors' spirits to open new paths for her life; but Juanita was a great weaver. This is what she did all her life. She weaved as she took steps on that path. She weaved a beautiful life. She opened doors and lead new paths for the children and people she nurtured. Juanita will be missed. She leaves us with a sigh of hope and strength to continue as witnesses to the events yet to come during this XXI Century. We are sure she is rejoicing knowing that "Not many people make it to a hundred!"