Obituary

Jewel Regina McLemore, age 64 of Avondale, AZ died January 23, 2019, in Goodyear, AZ.  She was born September 5, 1954, in Pine Bluff, AR to Willie McLemore and Furture Mae Porter, and raised in Chicago, IL.  Her mother passed away when she was 11 years old, one of many life experiences that would help to shape her character.  Her upbringing gave her a unique combination of southern hospitality and Chicago directness.  She was a good listener and confidant.    Her advice was direct and to the point but wrapped in love so that you always felt validated and uplifted.

Jewel worked for many years as a home healthcare worker.  She loved taking care of people and was treated with the utmost respect in whatever home she entered.  She was a charismatic lady!  Loving and understanding, she would reach out to anyone and provide whatever she could to give them assistance.  She would feed anyone, even animals that needed help.  She believed that respect didn’t come from what you have, but what you do with what you have.

Jewel never learned to drive a car, but that didn’t stop her from shopping.  She knew her way around a catalog and loved to order for herself and her daughters.  She was a classy lady that recognized the importance of looking her best at all times of the day.  She enjoyed being at home listening to music, (gospel, jazz, and Motown,) and watching her shows, (Greenleaf, HGTV, Bobby Flay and Gray’s Anatomy.)  She religiously watched the news every day and made sure that everyone around her knew what was going on in the world.

Jewel’s children were her life.  Her grandchildren held an even greater piece of her heart.  She is survived by her daughters, Latonda M. McLemore, Katricia M. Cox (Joe), Natasha S. McLemore (Spencer), Dominique Colman; sons, Donald R. McLemore (Ewanda), and Demetrice D. Colman; sister, Darlene Terrell; 35 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and Godson JaCari Byers.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Furture Mae Porter, and father, Elger Magreger.  “Never say goodbye, say, I’ll see you later!”

A visitation will be held at 10:00 am with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 am, Saturday, February 2, 2019, at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ  85338.  The funeral cortege will follow in procession to Holy Cross Cemetery, 9925 W. Thomas Road, Avondale, AZ 85392.