JEFFERSON-PURNELL, Tawanda 1962-2012

JEFFERSON, PARNELL, ANDREWS, WYATT, SISK

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 8/17/2012 at 20:07:35

WATERLOO, IOWA — Tawanda Jefferson-Purnell, 49, of Waterloo, died May 15, at Covenant Medical Center emergency room, of natural causes.

She was born August 1, 1962, in Waterloo, daughter of Randall Jefferson Sr. and Marguriette Andrews. She married Willie Purnell Jr. on Aug. 16, 1997, in Waterloo. She was formerly employed at IBP.

She is survived by her husband; her mother, Marguriette Wyatt of Waterloo; three daughters, Tywanda Jefferson, Shaniece (Orlando) Jefferson-Sisk and Britney Jefferson, all of Waterloo; a son, Detravis Jefferson; nine grandchildren; 12 sisters, Carole Townsend, Anna Bunch, Joyce Lewis, Jacqueline Jefferson, Sherry Jefferson, Sandra (Erich) Jones and Marguriette Irving, all of Waterloo; Yevette Townsend of Des Moines, Mary Lewis of Jacksonville, Fla., Linda Lewis of Austin, Texas, Gwen Lewis of Denver, Colo., Darlene Lewis of Ankeny; nine brothers, Michael Bunch, Freddy Jefferson, both of Minneapolis, Terry Townsend and Randall Lee Jefferson, both of Atlanta, Ga., Ezel Jefferson and Warren Jefferson, both of Waterloo, John Lewis of Eldon, Larry Lewis of California, and Randall Jefferson Jr. of El Paso, Texas.

She was preceded in death by two brother, Jimmy Lewis and Jermiah Jefferson; a sister, baby girl Jefferson; her father, Randall Jefferson Sr.; two grandmothers, Henrietta Cryer and Adline Jefferson; and two grandfathers, Mose Jefferson and Louis Andrews.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at Antioch Baptist Church, with burial in Fairview Cemetery. Visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday and for an hour before services Tuesday at the church. Sanders Funeral Service is assisting the family.

Memorials may be directed to 507 Oak St., where the family will be receiving friends.

[Waterloo Courier website, June 10, 2012]