Jacqueline Renée Saunders Terrell

July 30, 1943 ~ May 23, 2016

CELEBRATION of LIFE │ Obituary, Jacqueline R. Terrell

I’m sure that life changed for everyone the day I was born. It was Friday, July 30, 1943 and Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president. The country was at the height of World War II and this was the day that Adolf Hitler received news of Italy’s imminent defection. Considering the fact that I have ALWAYS marched to the beat of a different drummer, I took my GOOD flight into eternal rest on Monday, May 23, 2016 at Bridgepoint Hospital on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

My mother and father were the late Allen George and Antoinette Leonard Saunders who decided to name me – Jacqueline Renée. Ever since I can remember though, everyone just called me “Jackie” for short. My parents were “salt of the earth” kind of people, so I can’t complain one bit about my humble beginnings in Portsmouth, Virginia.

As with most kids in Portsmouth, I went to I.C. Norcom High School where I was quite active. I participated in Future Business Leaders of America, the Drama Club, and believe it or not – the Debate Team! Once I graduated from high school, I was fortunate enough to go to college at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. At State, I got involved in the French Club and pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated in 1962 which (after 54 years of being an AKA) made me a Golden Soror! As studious as I was, I did find a little time to start working on my MRS degree as well. So, I went on to earn my Bachelor of Arts degree in English/French and married Henry M. Terrell in 1965. Later that year, our only child Crystal Monique came along. Once our family was established, we migrated north to DC to further our careers and to pursue a better life.

In the meantime, I landed my first job in 1967 as a French teacher at Garnett-Patterson Junior High School. I guess this was the start of a “love affair” of sorts with DC Public Schools which would last some 40 years! During that span of time, I also taught at Taft Junior High, Spingarn STAY, and finally, the school from which I retired – Calvin Coolidge Senior High School! I held the distinction of being a proud staffmember of the Teaching Professions Program responsible for ushering yesterday’s students into today’s teachers...

Since my retirement, anyone who knows me well can tell you that I have truly been a “Lady of Leisure!” I spent the majority of my days doing whatEVER I felt like…IF anything at all! I was always an avid reader (I got that from my Daddy.), a master seamstress (I got that from Mama.), SUPER creative (as evidenced by the countless arts and crafts I used to do), and an interior decorator that could rival ANY of these new-fangled designers on TV!

I’ve always had an affinity for the finer things in life and endeavored to have THE best of everything that my ducketts could buy! To that end, I’ve also done ANYthing AND EVERYthing I was big and bad enough to do! So you see…I lived my life on MY terms – unapologetically! While I know that some of you never understood the beat to which I danced, understand and know without a shadow of a doubt that (in the words of Old Blue Eyes himself)…I did it MYYY way!

Nevertheless, there are a select few of you that have “been there” for me all the way. Topping that list of my family and close survivors is my daughter, Crystal M. Terrell of Woodbridge, VA. We’ve had our “moments” as most mothers and daughters do, but she has been my constant, my conscience, and my ride or die to the very end! Her name couldn’t say it any better; she has truly been a GEM…

Surviving also are my sisters, Andrea and Toni. Andrea Jones of Middletown, CT whom we affectionately call “Sarge” is hilarious, generous and “in charge” of everything and everybody. My youngest sister Antoinette (Toni) Saunders of Portland, OR is a ball of energy, has this infectious laugh, and sings like an angel! I have three nephews – Alex B. Jones (who just married Kaitlin and who is Lord Liam’s Dad) of Hoboken, NJ, John Saunders and Michael-Allen Gaither both of Portland, OR. Every Tuesday for the last eight months or so, I could count on my “adopted daughter”, Lynnette Lynn-Horton of Capitol Heights, MD to help me to “Rock Steady.” Lastly, I was blessed with an angel who began as my caregiver, but quickly became my friend, trusted confidante and spiritual advisor, Marina (Maraina) Fowler of Abaco, Bahamas. Who would have thought that Jackie Terrell would have been SO close to a Pastor AND an Apostle? For those of you who reeeally know me…you can start laughing now! Just know that God WILL have His way…

Veronica (Ronnie, Ronnikins, Ronstance, Miss Goody Two-Shoes) Hawkins of Richmond, VA gave new meaning to the word “friend”. She has been with me since elementary school when we decided to “boycott” the school choir. She has been my “voice of reason” ever since and steadfast in encouraging me regularly to socialize and reconnect with old friends via church or the sorority, exercise, get well and take up some new and old hobbies.

Delcenia (Dell) Currence of Myrtle Beach, SC was my road dog always at-the-ready to have a good time! She dates back to the days when I first got married. These are the days when we literally had a party EVERY weekend! She has been my fearless girlfriend who has pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone in business, real estate, and life in general.

I honestly don’t know what I would have done without either of their friendships and thank God I never had to find out!

Charge it to my head and not to my heart if I failed to mention you by name. Your presence in my life – directly OR indirectly – has indeed been felt. Maybe we’ve shared a laugh, worked on a project together, whooped on the phone half the night, you’ve been kind to my child, or as I used to say, “We’ve solved all the problems of the world.” Whatever the case…know that I appreciate you being here!

Worry not that I’ve done it all, have no doubt I had a BALL!

Love Always and Forever,

Jackie, Jacksie, The Jackster, Minerva, The Qween

Celebration of Life Services were under the direction of and held at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home and Cemetery in Brentwood, Maryland beginning with the Visitation on Sunday, June 5, 2016 from 4PM ~ 6PM with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Ivy Beyond the Wall Ceremony from 5 PM ~ 5:30 PM. On Monday, June 6, 2016, there was yet another brief Visitation from 12:30 PM ~ 1PM followed by the Homegoing Service at 1PM. The Interment was held at 2:30 PM and the Repast immediately following at The Camelot by Martin's in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.