Lisa Donnette Anthony

Lisa Donnette Anthony was born on the 25th of April 1967, in Brooklyn, New York to the late Lloyd Anthony and Jesserine Barclay Anthony. She was the second of three children and enjoyed being “the middle child”. When she was five years old, her family packed their bags and headed south for a warmer climate, relocating to Orlando, Florida where they would spend the next eight years. The family made one final move - heading west for Houston, Texas in 1981 where Lisa would live out the rest of her days. She wasn’t born in Texas but was proud to call Houston home.

The Love of Learning

Lisa had many scholastic successes and achievements, the earliest sparks of which occurred when she bypassed the second grade because of her academic prowess. The achievements never stopped and only continued from there. As a proud member of the National Honor Society, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Willowridge High School in 1984. Upon graduation, she attended the University of Houston then later transferred to her beloved Fisk University “Go Bulldogs!” in Nashville, Tennessee. While at Fisk, Lisa was named Who’s Who in college and made the dean’s list in multiple and successive semesters. She graduated from Fisk in 1989 with honors, obtaining not just one, but two bachelor’s degrees - a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. She loved learning, which led her to pursue and obtain a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Management in 2006 from the University of Phoenix.

Lisa’s professional career path was one of variety and breadth, consistent with her wide-ranging skills, abilities and multiple passions. She was the Director of Optimum Home Services, Inc. for 14 years, and was also a cytogeneticist at Baylor College of Medicine. After several years in corporate America, Lisa embraced her entrepreneurial spirit, becoming the CEO and operator of Move About Medical Supplies, Inc. A member of numerous professional organizations, Lisa left her mark on the world with her work and volunteerism.

The Love of Travel

Lisa was always on the move. She loved to travel, especially going on cruises. She cris-crossed the globe on the high seas, visiting places from Alaska to Athens, Venice to Vancouver, Nassau to Negril, with many other places too many to name. She especially loved “The Islands” which, whenever she would visit, would rekindle her deep affection for her Caribbean heritage. She was so fond of traveling that she even became a travel agent for family and friends. Lisa planned, scheduled, coordinated, and curated every trip as if it was her own, ensuring that only the best travel experience was good enough for those who she helped.

The Love for Others

Lisa loved people, always thinking about others before herself. She was sociable and compassionate, one who made friends and connections easily. This was true of her as a child, and even more so into adulthood. Her warm and disarming smile along with her jovial and witty nature were contagious. She had a genuinely inviting nature - a truly welcoming spirit. She could pierce the armor of the most implacable person with her social charm. It is why she connected with others on a deeply personal level. It was authentic and it was lasting.

Lisa loved her family. She was the global connector, the news-bearer, the neutral party, the peacemaker. She was the best big sister there was, creating the footsteps and casting shadows her little sister could follow in. And she was her mother’s right hand – her trusted assistant, her sidekick. Always. There. For her.

Lisa loved more than just people. She also loved animals, especially dogs. She even cared for up to nine dogs at once, showing that her compassion couldn’t be outnumbered. This passion was embodied in her commitment and support to animal rescue shelters. She was kind to all.

The Love for the Lord

Of all that she loved, there was one that was paramount. Lisa loved the Lord. She loved and served Him with all her heart and accepted Him as her Savior at an early age. She was a member of Fondren Southwest Seventh-Day Adventist Church where she remained a faithful servant even up to and throughout her health challenges. She also served as the church auditor as well as a dutiful member.

Lisa is preceded in death by her father, Lloyd Anthony, her brother, Christopher Barclay, and her nephew, Kenny Foschi. She leaves to cherish her memories, her loving mother, Jesserine Anthony and sister, Rochelle Chambers (Walter), her nieces and nephews: Pierre, Jasmine, Randy, Kristian, Sharlene and Kyle, her Aunt Eden Noel, Uncle Victor Barclay, her great nieces: Laylah and Anaiya and a host of cousins, godchildren, friends and loved ones.

Friends are cordially invited to a viewing from twelve o'clock noon until one o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 21st of July in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where the funeral is to commence at one o'clock.

Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a repast in the adjacent grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Lisa's name may be directed to Mercy Ships by visiting online at www.mercyships.org/?for=donate or to ASPCA by visiting online at secure.aspca.org/donate/memorial