John 14:3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (NLT)  Praise the Lord Amen!

Mrs. Juanita K. Ardrey, daughter of the late Marquis Kirkpatrick Sr. and late Lula Bell Pitts Kirkpatrick, was born on May 13, 1933, in Charlotte, NC.  She is preceded in death by her brothers, Marquis Kirkpatrick, Jr. and Javan Kirkpatrick, both of Charlotte, NC and sisters, Marion Frances (Lank) Rodgers of Salinas, CA and Betty Jean Dunlap of Charlotte, NC.

Juanita K. Ardrey (Mama) heard the voice of the Lord calling her name early on Good Friday morning, April 18, 2025, in her loving home in Salinas, CA.  God's word says, in John 10:27-28 (ESV) "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hands." Amen.

Juanita, "Neat," as she was affectionately known, attended West Charlotte High School where she participated on various teams: Photography, Track, Patrol Force, Y-Team, Captain of the Cheerleading Team, and Student Council.

Juanita worked for Dunbar Stanly Photograph Company in Charlotte, NC as a Photographic Developer for 10 years.  She worked for Smucker's Jam and Jellies as a Forklift Driver in Salinas, CA where she retired 30 years later.  She was the only female and Afro-American hired in that position.
Juanita attended Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC from childhood for 32 years.  She sang in the choir and attended Sunday School, and she made certain that her children sang on the choir and attended Sunday School also. Her favorite song was "How Great Thou Art." She attended Echoes From Calvary and Compass Church in Salinas, CA.

She had a kind, compassionate heart towards her friends and family. Her smile was radiant and full of love. She loved dancing, music, family fishing and picnics.  She enjoyed Ladies Teas, making jams, attending Christmas activities and volunteering to place envelopes in the chair pockets periodically.   She enjoyed working in her flower gardens for four to five hours a day. Mom had a gift to grow anything, Except for rocks.😀  Mom's passion was to have a clean house, going for walks, weight lifting, and body aerobics! She had great cooking skills, baking, canning, wearing matching attire, going to the rodeos, and yard sales.

She and Juile enjoyed watching football, and basketball, on Mom's couch in her family room screaming and cheering their teams.  She had the gift of creating her dresses and my dresses as well. She would purchase two dresses each from Belk then make patterns out of newspaper and create six dresses for us. Mom loved reading her (KJV) black bible. Her favorite statement to me before we close our phone conversation would be, "I leave it in God's Hands."

Her highlight of the year was visiting her family and friends in Charlotte during the holidays! The most joy she had was preparing the holiday meals with her granddaughter "Val" and "Leon." They placed every stir, beat, blend, chop, dice, dip, pour, laughter, and smile, from their hearts. She enjoyed celebrating holiday gatherings with her grands and family, friends, mountain vacations and seasonal cruises!

Loving memories are cherished by her loving daughter, Ms. Joan Ardrey of Charlotte; granddaughter, Mrs. Utonda George; great-grandsons, Gerren Jones of Fayetteville, NC, Roy Mewborn, Miles George and  Kalvin Leechman, all of Charlotte, NC, Denzell George, and Lavell George  of St. Louis, Missouri; and great-granddaughter, Destini A. Mewborn of Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong-si Bongdam-eup Jangdeung South, Korea; and a host of great-great-grandchildren.