Juanita Mae Williams Reitzammer

Juanita Mae (Williams) Reitzammer was born in St. Augustine, Florida where the family went each Spring in an attempt to avoid Sam C. William’s (her dad) life threatening annual asthma attack. On April 6, 1918, her mom, Bessie Ophelia (Blake) Williams gave birth to Juanita Mae Williams. A worldwide flu epidemic was in its third month and that “1918 Flu” raged on until Juanita was two in 1920; her life was bookended by worldwide pandemics. She died in her sleep Christmas Eve 2020 in isolation from COVID-19.

She had two brothers and a sister; all predeceased her, Sam C. Williams Jr., Blake Williams, and Eloise Williams Winslow.

Juanita attended Jackson High, graduating in 1931. Deciding to become a businesswoman, a niche with very few role models available at the time, Juanita began her career as an administrative assistant, working for Doctor Jack Thompson. In 1948 they headed up the creation of the physical facility now the core of West Tennessee Healthcare. They created the original brick and mortar building, ordered all the equipment and operating supplies and opened Jackson General Hospital, where Dr. Thompson has a bronze plaque.

Ridley Alexander later hired Juanita as administrative assistant at the Second National Bank. Juanita soon became an officer and became active in one of the first national women’s banking professional organizations.

Louis Reitzammer married Juanita Mae Williams June 19, 1938 but she had to cancel the church wedding due to her dad’s asthma.

Growing up as a Methodist, Juanita married into a Baptist family. Initially, she taught Sunday school at the First Baptist Church but preferred administrative duties to bible study. Over the years she organized the nursery, the primary department, sang in the choir, and served as treasurer as the downtown church built their new church building on North Highland Avenue.

Juanita was able to travel with her husband, Louis, to Vincennes, Indiana, where he was stationed, as World War II wound down. She gave birth to their son, John Blake Reitzammer there, in June 1945.

Golf was her joy and she joined the Jackson Golf and Country Club where she scored 2 hole-in-ones on back-to-back Saturdays, both on the 9th hole.

Juanita is survived by her son, John Blake Reitzammer and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Powell Reitzammer, her granddaughter Laurialan Blake Reitzammer, son-in-law John William Ranucci her great grandson Lucas Antonio Ranucci, her grandson John Blake Reitzammer Jr., daughter-in-law Kelly Smith Reitzammer and her great granddaughter Blakely Annabelle Reitzammer, her niece June Winslow Wamble, her nephew Dr. James Winslow, and her nephew Blake Williams Jr.,

Juanita often remarked to friends that her son went off for college before she and Louis were finished with him. We like to think that she left Christmas Eve, 2020 knowing her work here was finished.

Juanita died in the COVID isolation section of Bailey Park Nursing, Humboldt Tennessee, after contracting COVID early in December.

She spent the preceding 5 years at Brookdale Senior Living in Jackson where she was lovingly cared for by more caregivers than are possible to name. The Brookdale staff and management, directed by Clint Hickerson, made her final years meaningful and gave her great happiness.

Immediate family members will hold a graveside service December 29th at 2:00pm. George Smith and Sons will handle the burial.

In lieu of flowers please give generously to help RIFA of Jackson to provide for the overwhelming numbers of unemployed and homeless in our community as COVID rages on. www.rifajackson.org/donate Or call RIFA at 731-427-7963. It’s a great way to celebrate Juanita Mae Reitzammer’s life.