Obituary of Juanita Shannon

The beautiful life story of Juanita Gaddy Watson Shannon began on October 7, 1939, in the peaceful town of Badin, North Carolina, when she was born to Lucy Gaddy Ingraham and Benjamin Flowers. Surrounded by her children, she departed this life peacefully on May 19, 2024, at 9:31 pm at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson, Maryland. Throughout her life, Juanita shared countless fond memories of her childhood and education in North Carolina. Shortly after completing her studies, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where she began writing a new chapter with the love of her life, Charles A. Shannon, Sr. Charles and Juanita were lovingly married on March 2, 1963. Together they welcomed their daughter, Charlene, and their son, Charles A. Shannon, Jr., into their love story. Their faith, wisdom, patience, and nurturing spirits guided them and their children through their years of marriage, parenting, and life's victories and challenges. For thirty years, Juanita balanced motherhood with a full-time career in labor relations, serving as Supervisor for the State of Maryland Division of Unemployment, Department of Labor, a career that she and her family were deeply proud of. She was passionate about fair wages, worker protections, and her civic duty of voting, all of which she and her husband passed along to their children. Whether at work or at home, Juanita Shannon used her voice to advocate for education and empowerment in her beloved Maryland community. Juanita's most cherished role was that of matriarch of her beautiful, growing family. A true beacon of light, love, warmth, and encouragement, she welcomed her son-in-law, Byron Monts, and daughter-in-law, Angel Shannon, into her love story and life story along with each of her grandchildren: Tanisha, Sydnee, Kolby, and Noah and great grandchildren, Clark and Kamryn. Every family gathering was made brighter by her presence and the twinkle of joy she held in her beautiful blue eyes. Her entire family cherished her stories, wit, charm, and laughter. She reveled in the joy of watching her grandchildren grow and begin writing their own life stories. They were the light of her life, and she celebrated their achievements with a love that knew no bounds. Juanita's legacy of deep-rooted faith, kindness, and compassion will endure forever. She was a friend to many; a woman of grace who remembered every birthday, anniversary, holiday, and special occasion in the lives of people she loved, faithfully sending cards, flowers, and kind words of compassion. Juanita Shannon leaves a host of family and friends to cherish her love, legacy, and memories. These include her loving and devoted children, Charles Alfred Shannon, Jr., and Charlene Denise Monts; a daughter-in-law, Angel V. Shannon; a son-in-law, Byron L. Monts; her grandchildren: Tanisha, Sydnee, Kolby, and Noah; her great-grandchildren, Clark and Karmyn; three brothers, William, Grady, and Stanley; three sisters-in-law, Willis, Eunice, and Sojia; two special nieces and a nephew who were like children to her, Josenia Hamrick, Wynette (Wendy) Sims and Isaac Watson along with her nephew-in-law, Bernard Sims. Juanita was deeply loved, honored, and cherished by her late husband, Charles A. Shannon, Sr., and relatives who preceded her in death: one brother, the late John Ingram; two sisters, the late Rosa Lee Thomas and the late Jeanette M. Robinson Ingram; four brothers-in-law, the late Godfrey Thomas, the late Elliott Shannon, the late Teddy N. Shannon, Jr., and Bill Shannon; and five sisters-in-law, the late Sara Shannon and the late Josephine Rice. With hearts full of gratitude, good night Blue Eyes, we love you.