Juanita Whaley Cartier

Juanita Whaley Cartier, 85, died Saturday, November 26, 2011 at Kobacker House. She was preceded in death by husband Herschel D. Cartier, father Willis Whaley, Sr., mother Luddie Brown Whaley, stepmother Mattie Lee Whaley; brother Willis Whaley, Jr., and niece Avis Whaley. Left to cherish memories of Juanita's life are her sons Dwight E. and Gregory W. Cartier; daughter Roxyanne C. Burrus; grandchildren, Will (Bianca) Burrus, Sr., Ayanna Burrus (Hafsteinn) Gislason, Melissa, Tiffany, Dwight M., Stephan A., Christopher J., and Brendan Cartier; niece Brenda Whaley; nine great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends. Born October 21, 1926 in Columbus, Ohio, Juanita was a 1945 graduate of East High School and attended Wilberforce University. She was employed at the Ohio Aid for the Aged, Franklin County Department of Human Service, and retired in 1974 as a Social Service Advisor for Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. She was a fourth generation member of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she was an active disciple for more than 70 years. During the course of life, Juanita's vast community involvement has included memberships and volunteer work with the following: P.T.A. (during her children's primary school years), Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Teacher, Delegate for the Seal of Ohio Girl Scout Council and Leader of Troop 522, Den Mother for Boy Scout Troop 262 (St. Paul AME), AARP National Volunteer and Minority Spokesperson, Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services, National African-American Museum Cultural Center (Wilberforce, OH; where original equipment from her late father's business, Whaley's Barber Shop, is exhibited), Ohio Historical Society, King Arts Complex, Opera Columbus, Ohio Gerontological Society, Ohio Welfare Conference, Columbus Chapter of the Gray Panthers, The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged Inc., Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), The Ohio State University Commission on Inter-professional Education Practice, Ohio Council of Churches, Ohio Pastor's Convocation, City Widow's Association, National Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, Airport International Visitors Council, Wilberforce University Alumni, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance Committee, and National Social Welfare Conference. Additionally, she was a past president of Beta Kappa Chapter of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc., served on the Ohio Department of Aging's Task Force to enact Senior Day in the State of Ohio, and a past Board Member for Franklin County Office on Aging, Columbus International Program, Columbus Chapter of Central Ohio Alzheimers, Grandparents Living Theater, and the Underground Railroad Learning Center - Kelton House and Museum. She received numerous awards and accolades including the Humanitarian Award from Doctors Hospital and a feature story in the Columbus Dispatch series highlighting the history of the Near East side community. Celebration of Life 1 p.m., Monday, December 5, 2011 at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 639 E. Long Street, with family receiving friends from 12 noon until the start of service. Pastor Michael Bean, officiating. Entombment Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the African-American Alzheimer's Association, 112 Jefferson Ave., Suite 16, Columbus, OH 43215.