Juanita Cheeks

JUANITA FLANAGAN CHEEKS, daughter of the late Rosalee and William Randolph Flanagan, was born on August 22, 1946 in Baltimore, MD. She departed this life on January 30, 2009 after a lengthy illness.Bunnie, as she was called in her childhood and early adulthood by family and friends, was educated in Baltimore City Public School System. As she became older, she fully embraced her given name Juanita. Juanita was a talented, intelligent woman who had a quick wit and an infectious sense of humor. She had many hobbies, but her favorites were playing video games, lotteries and scratch-offs, cards and most of all cooking. During her life, she had many jobs, but the two jobs that gave her the most satisfaction were being a house manager for Johns Hopkins Halfway Houses and a teacher's assistant for the Baltimore City Head Start Program. As a teacher's assistant, she worked with and mentored many young children around Baltimore City. As a house manager, she counseled women who were in early recovery form drugs and alcohol. She gave hope, honesty, strength and inspiration to many women. At the end of each of each shift she worked, she would tell the women her most notable saying, "Stay on your own path".Juanita married her childhood sweetheart, best friend and life partner Robert. Their love has lasted for over 31 years. In addition to being married, she was most proud of being a mother to one son, Robert and a daughter, Nathalia. Juanita was also happy being a step-mother to Aprile and a mother-in-law to Keisha. What gave her even more joy was when she became a grandmother to Montaz and Rasheed. Being a mother-in-law also gave her the privilege of being a grandmother to Destiny and Briana.Juanita has touched the lives of many and she will never be forgotten by those who met, knew and loved her. She was strong, beautiful, courageous, honest, fearless, and most of all awesome. Her memory will live on by those who loved her.She leaves to cherish her memory: her husband, Robert Cheeks; two daughter, Nathalia Drew and Aprile Purvis; one son, Robert Cheeks; one daughter-in-law, Keisha Addison; two grandsons Montaz and Rasheed Cheeks; two granddaughter, Destiny and Brianna Addison; special daughter, Shedena Prince; four first cousins, Rosalee Weems, Delores Jones, Clara Carroll and Ralph Jones; and host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Juanita Cheeks

August 22, 1946 - January 30, 2009