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Jeanette Dugas
In Memory of
Jeanette
Dugas
1931 - 2017
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Obituary for Jeanette Dugas

Jeanette  Dugas
Jeanette Dugas was born on August 7th, 1931 in New York City, the fourth child of Benjamin and Naomi Kinard Ellis. She grew up in her family home at 628 Cherokee St, Aiken S.C. She attended Wesley Methodist church and Schofield High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Luther Dugas, during her senior year and graduated Schofield High School in 1952. In the midst of a deeply segregated south (Jim Crow south), she became the first black person to work at the Aiken Dime store. Her husband Luther joined the Air Force and
Jeanette accompanied him on his various tours of duty across the country, spending the majority of their time together in Wilmington, Delaware and Great Falls, Montana. Jeanette joined her mother and siblings to work and live in Queens, New York in 1961.

Upon joining her family in New York City, she embraced the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (with foundations in Black Nationalism) and joined the Nation of Islam. There she developed an insatiable appetite for the knowledge of Africa and her people (Africans in the diaspora). The teachings of self-reliance that flourished in the ‘Nation’, motivated her to be the first and only woman (at that time) to open her own shop at the Muslim African Asian Bazaar, while maintaining full employment.

Jeanette was a telephone operator, working 5 years at New York Telephone Company and retiring with over 25 years of service with Veterans Hospital (Administration). During her retirement, she realized her dream of returning ‘home’ to Aiken and restoring her affiliation to Wesley Methodist church. While in Aiken, her battle with chronic kidney disease intensified. As a result, Jeanette returned to NYC to be closer with her immediate family and live with her sister Hope. Jeanette fervently prayed for a Kidney transplant because she was tired of receiving dialysis. On her 80th birthday, her prayer was answered, and she received a Kidney transplant! No more dialysis! To God be the glory for the things He has done!

Jeanette always emphasized the importance of family. She loved her family unconditionally. No matter how distant the family member was, if help was needed she could be counted on to fill the gap. Jeanette looked forward to attending our annual Kinard family reunion. She was one of the original pioneers of the reunion, helping to build and maintain our Kinard family legacy.

One thing we understood was her unapologetic love for her brother Regin. They were two peas in a pod. Jeanette and Regin could often be found laughing and reminiscing about their younger days in South Carolina and travels across the country. Even when her own health was failing, she decided to share his home with him to oversee his care. Cooking and sharing meals with her brother always energized Jeanette.

Jeanette was knowledgeable about current events and loved to engage in debating the latest political and world issues. Reparations were a hot topic for her. She believed that the African American Black Man & Woman should receive reparations for the brutality and devastation our ancestors endured during slavery here in America. Jeanette always said ‘like the Jews, I will never forget, or forgive’. She was truly our warrior.

Jeanette was beautiful. She had big beautiful brown eyes, beautiful freckles, and sandy red hair. She was proud to say she looked like her mother. She was glamourous and stayed on the forefront of fashion. She always had a fashion magazine, especially Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. She wore the finest clothes, shoes, hats, and furs. She drove the top of the line luxury and sports cars, brand new. Jeanette always impressed upon us the importance of looking your best when you walked out the house. Jeanette was a proud South Carolinian but always reminded us she was ‘born’ in NYC. Jeanette loved to knit and crochet. Jeanette made the best German chocolate cake from scratch.

On May 24, 2017, she departed peacefully at Cliffside Nursing Home, in Queens NY. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Benjamin and Naomi Kinard Ellis and sisters, Barbara Ann Corley and Geneva Ellis.

Jeanette leaves to cherish her memory:
Mr. Regin Ellis (brother), Mrs. Hope Buckhalter (sister), Jane Corley (Daughter), John Corley Jr (son), Hashim Wiley (Grandson), Paula Robinson (Grand daughter),
Great grandchildren Cortez, Camron, Dominica & Royal Wiley,
Nieces: Debra (John) Collins, LaJune Morgan, & Maryum (Shabaka) Oneil,
Nephews: Regin Ellis Jr, John (Naomi) Corley Jr , Saladin (Beverly) Buckhalter, & Ben Ellis,
Grand nieces: Nicole Neal, Diya Dockery, Erika Ellis, Tilani Oneil, Kiyonah Buckhalter, Jamalia Hope Ellis
Grand nephews: Saled Jean-Louis, Jahim Jean-Louis, Regin Ellis III, Hakim Jamal Ellis, Bakare Oneill, Bomani Bckhalter , Omari Tor Ellis Sr., Shamar Green Sr.
Great grand nieces: DJenne Jean-Louis, Kiya Ann Ellis, Nia Neal
Great grand nephews: Atemu Jean-Louis, Sekai Graham, Jelani Ellis, & Omari Tor Ellis Jr, Shamar Green Jr., Ryan Green, and a host of family and friends.

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