Juanita Eason Graham died of COVID-19 on March 28. She was 55 years old.
Juanita had previously worked for almost 20 years at Walter Ambrose Family Center in Webster Groves (but hadn’t worked there since 2018) and had a genuine love for young children that was expressed in her calm cheerful demeanor. She was, simply put, amazing at her vocation.
Juniata’s doctor had originally thought her cough was a symptom of seasonal allergies at a regular visit on March 16 and sent her home with a prescription for Zyrtec. Caring for her husband who had been diagnosed with pneumonia after the couple took a trip, Juniata’s health continued to worsen. She went into the hospital on March 25, tested positive for COVID-19 and within three days had passed away. The day she was admitted to the hospital, the friend from out of town who Juniata and her husband had visited called to tell them that a woman Juniata had sat next to had tested positive for COVID-19.
Juniata Graham is missed deeply by her husband of 18 years, her mother, her family, everyone that she worked with, and the former preschoolers who she introduced to school for the first time.
Juniata’s husband wishes people to take social distancing and all the precautions seriously, because COVID-19 is not a joke.
Deeply saddened by the loss of the always warm & wise Ms. Juanita(Graham/Eason)-deeply loved & respected teacher, colleague&friend to so many. Out of love & respect for everyone this world has lost,including Ms. Juanita, we must do all we can to keep ourselves&one another safe.?
Sandy Kearny started having flu-like symptoms on March 24th, and in less than two weeks she passed of COVID-19 at the age of 70. She was placed on a ventilator within two days of diagnosis, and her daughter was able to put on a full body protective suit to say goodbye in person.
Sandy worked as a guidance counselor at Eureka High School since 1993 and as an educator since the 80s. The children she worked with, and her coworkers, could not comfort eachother in person due to the school being closed and restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
She leaves behind her husband, her brother, her twin sister, adult children, and numerous grandchildren.
She’s is missed terribly by her family, the children whose lives she touched, and her community.
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Jazmond Dixon died of COVID-19 on March 22, 2020 at only 31 years old.
Dixon earned her Masters in Business Administration from Lindenwood after graduating from Harris-Stowe University, and worked for the American Red Cross where she managed the computerized maintenance management system. She dreamed of starting a baking business.
She went to Urgent Care with breathing difficulties on Tuesday March 17th, was placed on a ventilator Thursday March 19th, and passed away Sunday evening on March 22 with her mother at her side. She had no preexisting conditions and was “young and healthy”. It is not known from whom or where she caught COVID-19.
Dixon’s cousin Belafae Johnson Jr. told the St. Louis American:
Dixon could have caught the virus anywhere between family functions, work or social gatherings, Johnson said.
“That’s what makes it so unnerving,” he said. “That’s why we wanted to get out and share her story and give out the most accurate information as we can.”
Perinatal nurse specialist Judy Wilson-Griffon advocated for better health outcomes for at-risk mothers. She was the first person in St. Louis confirmed to die of COVID-19. She was 63 years old.
Judy’s grandmother was a midwife in Alabama, and Judy took up the tradition through her work at BJC from 1981 to 2007 (where she established Missouri’s first maternal transport team for high-risk pregnant mothers), and most recently at St. Mary’s Hospital. She also served overseas in the Gulf War with the U.S. Navy Reserve Nurse Corps.
In 2019 Judy was honored as the March of Dimes Missouri Chapter Nurse of the Year in Women’s Health and Obstetrics.
Judy Wilson-Griffin leaves behind a step-daughter Valerie Griffin, a step-son Tyrone Griffin Jr., and numerous grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Tyrone Griffin Sr… and countless friends still miss her.
Judy Wilson-Griffin died of COVID-19 on a ventilator and in the thoughts of many at age 63 on March 20, the day that her proposal for creating a maternal triage acuity index for pregnant women was scheduled to be approved.
She is buried next to her late husband at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
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