Mrs. Juanita Irmagene Purnsley

Juanita Lowe Purnsley was born on March 19, 1937 in Little Rock, Arkansas to a sharecropper Robert Lowe and Callie Lee Locklin. She spent her childhood years in Tyronza, Arkansas before relocating with her mother and finally settling down in Southern Pines, N.C. It was here that she planted her roots and began to make her mark on life. She starred athletically, academically, and theatrically at West Southern Pines High School. She matriculated to Shaw University where she paid her way through college and always made sure that her grandmother, mother, and younger brother had enough. While at Shaw she was extremely active in the drama club playing Queen Elizabeth in a Black College touring review, graduating with a B.S. in education as well as becoming a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. Juanita taught 43 years and was Moore County teacher of the year in 1984. Juanita taught at numerous schools notably, Leak Street High School coaching the girls basketball team, Southern Pines Middle, and Vass-Lakeview as well as positions in Cumberland Co., Hoke Co., Fairbanks, Alaska and many others. She was beautiful, classy, always flawless, a mentor, and master motivator. But, it was in 1961, in Southern Pines where she would meet a handsome young Army Paratrooper from Wilmington, Delaware, Ernest L. Purnsley Sr. and 6 weeks later they were married. It lasted for 62 years. Together they had 4 children Ernest Jr., Ernesto, Endre’, and Ernita. With Ernest Sr. serving in the U.S. Army the couple found themselves in Fairbanks, Alaska. It is here where her youngest son was injured in and accident and it changed the course of her life forever. She entered into a covenant with God and never turned back. Along with her mother they started a bible study group on Gaines St. in Southern Pines which blossomed in Revival for Jesus Church. As an anointed evangelist, and following the word of God this mother and daughter team founded and built House of God Prayer Tabernacle now located in Parkton, N.C. She preached the word of God in Revivals, and conventions from Massachusetts to Georgia, and could never be found without her beloved best friend and organist Mrs. Cynthia Woods. Juanita loved her children and could always be found on the sidelines cheering them on from Pinecrest High School to Wake Forest, to Catawba College, and Fayetteville State. She was an avid traveler who loved cruising to exotic ports the world over. God truly favored Juanita and we all benefitted from her anointing. If you ever wondered how her children excelled, she was always, always praying. Every morning the family alarm clock was Andrae’ Crouch playing on her record player she bought on layaway. But she not only encouraged her children, she encouraged everyone she met. Inspiring thousands of young people and old alike to be their best and reminding the that God loves them. There was never a moment spent with her that she didn’t hug you, tell you she loved you, and would pray for you on the spot. Family Juanita is survived by a blessed family: Husband Ernest L. Purnsley Sr.; children Ernest L. Purnsley Jr.(Katherine), Ernesto L. Purnsley, Endre L. Purnsley (Jackie), Ernita N. Purnsley-Deans (Phillip); grandchildren Elise N. Purnsley, Evan L. Purnsley, Calina R. Purnsley, Ernest L. Purnsley III, Charles E. Arnold; brother Paul L. Locklin(Sylvia); a host of nieces, nephews, and very special cousins Barbara Jean Winston; Denise Williams, and Maurice Winston.

Mrs. Juanita Irmagene Purnsley

March 19, 1937 - August 7, 2023