Juanita Elva Wright Cannon, 92, of Cleveland, Tennessee, died on Tuesday afternoon, February 21, 2017, at a local health care facility.
Her family and friends take comfort in the knowledge that she is experiencing the rewards of her lifelong walk with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for whom she had worked tirelessly since the days of her youth.
Born April 24, 192 4, at home in the country side outside of Marquand, Mo., she was the next to youngest of 13 children born to David and Elizabeth Wright. After graduating Mine La Motte High School in Fredericktown, MO., she moved to Cleveland to work at Bible Place, the Church of God of Prophecy International Headquarters, in the early1940s. She spent more than 45 years working in various offices at the church's headquarters as a secretary, bookkeeper and proofreader. In her early years there, she was very instrumental in the construction of the church's Biblically based theme park, Fields of the Woods. She served many years alongside Women's Ministries Director Elva Howard and helped with the establishment of the church's Ladies Retreat program. She, and her husband Gene, traveled the world ministering through the retreats. She also served in various other ministry offices over the years, as well as several years with the White Wing Messenger, the church's official magazine.
Throughout the years, she raised her "mission money" by expertly decorating wedding, birthday and other special occasion cakes for hundreds of people throughout the community. She also served as the president of the Oak Grove Parent-Teacher Association for a time during the 1960s. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and the Emmaeus Group.
Marrying husband Gene Cannon on April 4, 1947, the couple's wedding was the first service of any kind held in the Wildwood Avenue Church of God of Prophecy. They were married just seven weeks shy of 70 years.
Given the "gift of hospitality" by the Lord, she also welcomed numerous other "children" and "grandchildren" into her family throughout her life. She has been a faithful member of the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy since the congregation moved there from Wildwood Avenue in 1974. She served for many years as a Sunday School teacher, as well as other leadership positions.
She was preceded in death by her parents; all of her siblings, except one; one son, Daryl Gene "Degee"; and one granddaughter Vanessa Bell.
She is survived by her husband, Gene; her brother, Dale Wright of Jonesboro, AR; her daughter Darline Bell of Cleveland; three sons, Jerry, and wife Joyce, of Cleveland, OH, David and wife Tina, of Manassas, VA and Joe Cannon of Cleveland; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and too many special nieces and nephews to number.
A Remembrance of Life Service will be held Saturday February 25, at 11 a.m. from the Peerless Rd. Church of God of Prophecy with Bishop Randy Howard and Galen Bell officiating.
The interment will be held Monday February 27, at 10 a.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with Robert Cannon, Kevin Cannon, Timothy Cannon, Chris Cannon, J.D. Cannon, Ben Cannon and Frankie Soukup serving as casket bearers.
The family will receive friends Friday, February 24 from 5-8 p.m. at the church and Saturday, February 25 from 10-11 a.m. at the church.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Helping Hands Ministry, PO Box 2910, Cleveland TN., 37320-2910 or by going on-line to www.globalcogop.org.