Juanita Duplanter

Juanita Duplanter, 67, passed away peacefully holding her oldest daughter’s hand after having a stroke on July 18, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa. Services will be held Friday July 23, 2021 at Greater Love Church of God in Christ, 1440 DeWolf Street, Des Moines. Family will begin greeting guests at 12 p.m. with funeral service at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery.

Juanita WillaMae Duplanter was born on April 17, 1954 to Everette Duplanter Sr. and Christine Castine in Napoleanville, LA. She was educated in Des Moines, graduating a year early from East High School. She attended Salvadore Beauty College where she graduated with honors and became a cosmetologist and then a cosmetology instructor. She had a passion for children and doing hair, especially her own. Juanita was a staple of her neighborhood and was the “cool, compassionate” mom who all the kids and young adults loved and flocked too. She always had a beautiful smile and open door for anyone in need. She was soft spoken and small in stature but had the largest heart in the world. She was a proud mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Her natural beauty was honest and pure. She was employed at various positions but her greatest career achievement was as a preschool educator when she worked several years for The Evelyn Davis Learning Center. Upon her retirement from teaching she dedicated her life to spending time with her family. Unbeknownst to many she loved to draw, write in her journal and read the bible.

Juanita loved spending time with her family, especially her children and grandchildren, watching reality television shows, going to the casino and doing her hair in various hair styles. She was affectionately known as Nee Nee, Ms. Juanita and Aunta Nita by her three nieces: Monisha, Myneka, her goddaughter, and Meltisha. She enjoyed traveling to Chicago to visit her oldest daughter, receiving regular gifts of purses, scarves and jewelry from her baby girl Chrissy and being pampered with home cooking from her baby boy Mantez.

Juanita had a smile that could light up the darkest room. Her voice was sweet and melodic. She loved to dress to impress and her hair was always styled to perfection. She didn’t have to raise her voice to be heard or raise her hand to be seen.

She is survived by her children, Chantell Windham (Earl) of Chicago, IL, Chrissy Duplanter and Mantez McGuire (Madison) of Des Moines, Iowa; bonus children, Rosie Jackson and Josh Lewis; grandchildren, Makaiyo Smith, McKenna Cleggett, Khyler Howard, Rachel Windham and Elijah Windham; her sister, Melody Crawford and brother, Everette Duplanter Jr., sisters in love, Margie Williams, Marlene Stafford and Delbert McGuire; her brother/cousin, Edward Dorsey Sr. She was preceded in death by her parents, Everette Duplanter Sr. and Christine Castine Duplanter; and her husband, Manny McGuire.

Memorial contributions can be directed to the family in loving memory of Juanita.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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