Jacquita L. Duncan

Jacquita Louise Duncan died peacefully in her home on Saturday, June 23, 2018. The daughter of William Marion Duncan and Alice Lucille Gowder Duncan Allsup, who predeceased her, she was born in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, on July 1, 1937. Jacquita’s life and career spanned decades of diverse interests, passions and skills. She was a dedicated musician. As a high school student, she started the Graded Choir Program at First Baptist Church, Edmond. After graduating from Central State College in Edmond, she began her professional life at Baptist Boys Ranch and Oklahoma Baptist Children’s Home where she was a counselor and activities director. Next came a period of teaching in the public schools. Seminary followed, as did many years of serving churches in Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma as a Minister of Music. Jacquita’s primary career focus was in sales for World Book Encyclopedia. Though her earliest steps were in the World Book sales force, she rose through several levels of management, including serving as National Sales Trainer for the U. S. and Canada at the corporate offices in Chicago. While she honed her business and leadership skills as a manager, her first calling, that of teaching, found its most fulfilling expression in her role training and mentoring the sales force. Jacquita’s lifelong practice of service and ministry found a new direction after she retired from World Book. At age seventy, after several years serving on the staff of First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, she was ordained to the ministry and continued to serve as Minister of Congregational Life there. The consummate churchwoman, Jacquita relished her role as mentor and minister to the staff, as well as the congregation of First Baptist. No one in her life felt Jacquita’s love and support more than her family. She was generous in her praise and always ready to offer the full measure of her attention, as well as her wit and wisdom. Left to grieve the loss of a remarkable woman is her dearest, lifelong friend, LaJuanda Speegle (and her family), her sister, Winona Marks (husband, Freddie), her brother, Ralph, 5 nieces and nephews and spouses, plus a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Friday, June 29, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Corbett Funeral & Cremation, 807 West Wilshire Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73116. A Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 30, at The First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. Memorial gifts may be made to Legacy of Care, First Baptist Church, 1201 North Robinson, Oklahoma City, OK 73103 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jacquita L. Duncan please visit our Sympathy Store.