Juanita S. Knight

MRS. JUANITA S. KNIGHT Mrs. Juanita S. Knight, 69, of LaGrange, GA, and McAllen, TX, passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at Renaissance Hospital in Edinburg, Texas. Born August 5, 1940, in LaGrange, Mrs. Knight was the daughter of the late L. D. and Hazel Elizabeth Evans Duke. She married Thomas L. Knight on July 1, 1957, and he predeceased her in 2002. She was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Sheila Jo Knight in 1958; by her brothers Raymond and Jimmy Duke; and by brothers and sister-in-law, Charlie F. Knight, Harold L. Knight, and Virginia Knight Watterson. Mrs. Knight was educated in the LaGrange City Schools and had been a member of Concord Baptist Church since 1957. She was a master seamstress and had worked for Debra Sargent Interiors, Susan Teaver Interior Design, and Van Bohannon/Freeman Furniture Interiors. She was self-employed from 2002 until her retirement in 2009. Her drapery creations hang in many public buildings in Troup County, including several LaGrange churches and LaGrange College. She was a sixth generation resident of Troup County, being descended from Richard Hudson who settled in the Long Cane Community in 1828, from Rev. John M. Duke who settled in the Ware's Cross Roads Community in 1828, and from John C. McGee, who settled in southern Troup County in 1834. Since her retirement in 2008, Mrs. Knight had resided with her children in the tropical Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. She enjoyed painting, crafts, reading, gardening and travel, and since her retirement had visited fifteen states and several locations in northern Mexico. She was a devout Christian woman who placed her faith in God and walked with him on a daily basis. She now rests in his tender care. Her greatest earthly love was for her family; she was a beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and she will be dearly missed. We cherish the time we had with her, and we know that we will see her again. She lived with strength, grace, and dignity; she taught industry, self-reliance, and charity. Her love and her strength will long be remembered. Mrs. Knight is survived by her daughter Christi Knight and her fiancé Dr. Charles Waite, of McAllen, Texas; her son Larry T. Knight, Sr., and daughter-in-law Peggy Knight of LaGrange; her son Dr. Thomas Daniel Knight and daughter-in-law Kathryn Knight of Edinburg, Texas; her son by marriage, Charles M. Smallwood of Hogansville; grandchildren, Kimberly King, Larry Knight, Cheri Knight, Sandy Wilson, Shelly Smallwood, Lisa Smallwood, LeeAnn Knight, and Joshua Knight; great-grandchildren, Megan Leigh King, Christopher King, Logan Barrett, Kirsten Knight, Britney Wilson, Cortney Wilson, Samuel Wilson, and Jordan Martinez; sister, Angela N. Duke; sisters-in-law, Linda Duke, Christine Knight, Myrtle Knight; brother-in-law, James Knight; and aunts, Rachel Evans Ramey and Jettie Evans; many nieces and nephews; and a host of friends in Georgia and Texas. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 12, at the Pentecostal Holiness Church on Youngs Mill Rd. in LaGrange. The Revs. Leonard Hodge and Billy McCollough will officiate, with interment in the Mooty Family Cemetery. The family will be at their home, 2485 Cameron Mill Rd. in LaGrange, and will receive friends from 6 until 8 Thursday evening at the funeral home. Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visitation: from 6 until 8 Thursday night, March 11th, at Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home in Hogansville Services: 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 12th, at the Pentecostal Holiness Church on Youngs Mill Road in LaGrange Interment: Mooty Family Cemetery in LaGrange