Jerel Jean Braxton

Jerel Braxton was a radiant light to our family and to everyone that she met. Her vibrant personality made everyone feel loved. Mrs. Jerel Jean Miller-Braxton, was the only child born to the union of Fred Miller and Emma Beatrice Dowdy-Miller in the Summer of 1943 in Memphis, Tennessee on July 12th. I was always told by my Grandmother that she was her “Miracle Baby” because she only weighed 1.5 pounds at birth…that just goes to show that she has always been strong and was born a fighter. Fred and Emma brought Jerel to St. Louis at the age of 2 years old, so she considered it her home. As a child, she attended Cole Elementary and graduated from Cupples Elementary School. She graduated from Sumner High School in 1962. From there she attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri for a year. In 1963, through her first marriage, she became Jerel Thompson. Through that union she had two daughters, Kimberly Leandrea and Candace Germaine. She always loved being a mother, so for a while she put her focus on being the best mother that she could be, but her ambitious heart wanted her to have more for her baby girls. She went back to school to obtain get her Associate of Fine Arts Degree from Forest Park Community College. She went on after that to get her Bachelors of Elementary Education with a certification to teach Math. She went on to teach for the St. Louis Public School System for over 20 years until her retirement. In the late 1960’s she married again to become Jerel Braxton but to that relationship no children were born. Jerel’s resilience helped her to battle cancer successfully three times before she succumbed to her fourth battle and was called home on the evening of August 7th, 2020. Jerel’s magnificent legacy lives on through her pride and joy: her children, grandchildren, and Great Grandchildren. Mrs. Kimberly Mason (Jonathan David) her eldest daughter blessed her with 3 grandchildren: Ms. Brittany Danielle Mason (mother of great-grands Khyan Amari and Kenneth Kristian), Ms. Jerrica Lauren Mason (mother of great-grands Cortez Alexander, Naomi Jai’lynn, and Kodie Thomas), and Mr. Jarred David Mason. Also, her youngest daughter, Ms. Candace Germaine Johnson-Thompson blessed her with 2 more handsome grandsons, Joshua Barnes Johnson and Blake Alexander Johnson. She leaves behind countless hearts that she touched through education, church, family members, and lifelong friends.

Jerel Jean Braxton

July 12, 1943 - August 7, 2020