Juanita Lovelace was born on December 14, 1934, in Cleveland, Ohio to Joe and Etolia Bowman. She enjoyed traveling and making lasting memories, but she had long-established roots; being born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.

Despite the opposition that many black women faced with racial injustice and  women’s rights, she beat the odds personally and professionally. She told stories of how she and her late husband, Ernest Lovelace Sr., started with very low-paying jobs and lots of responsibilities, and through  hard-work and discipline, they built a  lifestyle they enjoyed.

She started out working doing things like dry-cleaning and babysitting, but she had ambition for more, and decided to pursue her education. She graduated at the top of her class from East Tech High School (1954), took college classes at Cuyahoga Community College, and worked proudly as a teacher’s assistant to children with developmental disabilities for 20+ years.

Juanita and Ernest Sr. had a moving love story that spanned 57 years, and we believe is being continued now. They were introduced to each other as teenagers. They became friends and eventually developed a life-long      romantic partnership. They separated briefly while Ernest went away to the military, but after his return, they were married on September 27, 1958. Their marriage was defined by love for each other, generosity, community involvement, and strong family values. From this union, they had three children: Ernest Jr., Etolia, and Joyce.

Juanita was an active member of Everlasting Baptist Church where she served as a church mother and participated in the treasury. She was known for being  dependable and giving her time to mentor, support, and serve.

What we can thank God for, above all, is that Juanita was happy with her life’s accomplishments. She spent days crying tears of joy at the distance her family had come, from what she saw as a young girl to what she saw as a mature woman. In her prime years, she spoke messages of unending gratitude to God and to those around her for all she has, and her example should lead all those who met her to lead lives of perseverance and gratitude as she did.

She was preceded in death by her grandson, Charles Gills III.

Juanita departed this life to be with the Lord on December 25, 2021. She leaves to cherish her memory beloved children, Ernest Jr. and Iris Lovelace in Abingdon, Maryland, Charles C. Gills Jr. and Etolia Gills in Akron, Ohio, and Joyce Lovelace in Akron, Ohio; her grandchildren, Camille    Harper-Beck, Ernie Lovelace, Erin Lovelace, Tiffany and Stephen Domena and Jasmin Deiss-Anderson, Candace Gills, Howard Dover, and Christina Dover; her great-grandchildren, Jaelin Richmond, Jaylah Deiss, and Sela Domena.