Annette Cecelia Howell Jennings beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on July 9, 2020 at her home after a long battle with cancer. Annette was born on March 21, 1947 in Salt Lake City, Utah to the late Floyd and Nellie Howell and married Jeremiah Jerrise Jennings on February 16, 1974.
Annette earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Business Education from the University of Utah and a Master of Education from the University of Utah.
Annette wanted to be a teacher ever since she was a child. She would tell stories of lining up her dolls and pretending to teach a class. She began her career teaching in Salt Lake City, Utah where she taught several years as a business education instructor at the high school from which she graduated with honors as a Sterling Scholar. Annette was the first black teacher to ever teach at West High School.
Her teaching experience includes teaching full time at California State University Northridge where she taught business communication courses and all phases of business education. She was an adjunct instructor for several years at Los Angeles Mission College, and she also taught for several business colleges, Los Angeles high schools, and in technical private industry programs.
Annette was hired full-time at Los Angeles Valley College in 1989 where she served as department chair of the Computer Applications & Office Technologies department for over 20 years. Faculty, staff, and students all admired her warm, patient, and kind spirit.
Although she retired in 2015, she continued to teach an online business communications course for the college until the end of the spring 2020 semester. All in all, she taught for over 51 years.
First and foremost, Annette was a dedicated mother and proud grandmother. She treasured her family and embraced every moment with them. She is survived by her husband Jeremiah Jerrise Jennings and her loving sister Sharon Ross (Paul). She leaves to cherish her memory one daughter Gina Jerry (Marcus) and three sons Jelani Jennings (Miranda), Shomari Jennings, and Denzel Jennings.
She was blessed with nine grandchildren Shawn Jerry, Kai Jennings, Rachel Jerry, Amara Jennings, Hazel Jennings, Domani Jennings, Elijah Jennings, Ethaniel Jennings and Emmani Jennings and was awaiting another granddaughter due this fall. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her. She often stated, “I have the best cousins in the world.”
Annette lived life to the fullest. She enjoyed listening to live music and was always willing to get up and dance. She will be remembered for her love of hummingbirds, sweet treats and of course, the color yellow. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.
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