It is with heavy hearts we announce that Annie Juanita Dowdy Denmark Newton died of natural causes on January 9, 2025 at her home in Brooklet, Georgia, surrounded by her children. Juanita was born on June 6, 1933 in Baxley, Georgia weighing in at only 4 lbs, to Luther McClaine Dowdy and Annie Nall Dowdy. She was the middle child of two brothers whom she loved dearly, Warren and James, both predeceasing her.
Juanita attended Baxley High School and fortuitously worked at a furniture store during her teen years. She then received her teaching degree from Georgia Teacher’s College in 1954, now Georgia Southern University. After graduating, she enjoyed teaching school in Fernandina Beach, FL before accepting a proposal of marriage from her college sweetheart, Warnell Olen Denmark Jr. of Brooklet. They were married in June of 1955. During their early years, they relentlessly worked side by side building a business that began as a dry goods store that W.O. Denmark Sr. had started around 1926. Eventually, through perseverance and much faith, the humble Denmark’s Mercantile grew into one of the largest furniture stores in the Southeast.
During these early years, Juanita continued to teach school by day and work with Warnell in the afternoons and evenings to build a family business. It was not long until they had the first of three children within thirty-six months with their fourth child following twelve years later. Juanita always took pride in saying that by the time her youngest child graduated, she had been involved in the Bulloch County school system for 28 years. She is survived by her four children, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren (all of which are boys!): Lynn Denmark Soliday (Mark), Evans, GA; Sue Denmark Strickland (Terry), Statesboro, GA; Gary Warnell Denmark (Laurie Seifert), Brooklet, GA; Victoria Juanita Denmark Marks (Ladd), Marietta, GA. Grandchildren and great grandchildren: Brittany Miller Guest (Greg)—Parker David ,Austin, TX; Bryan Strickland (Heather Williams)— Bryan Gage, Sylvania, GA; Shane Strickland (Tracy Crosby), Garfield, GA; Daniel Warnell Denmark (Mindy Sims) —Olen Warnell, Brooklet, GA; Hannah Denmark Nevil (James)—Leo Parker and Rowe Wilder, Nevils, GA; Sydney McClaine Marks, Atlanta, GA; Lane Sinclair Marks, Marietta, GA.
Juanita leaves a tangible legacy through her years of service and working in small business. After Warnell’s passing in 1987, Juanita went on to sustain the family furniture store working side by side with her son, Gary and daughter-in-law, Laurie. During these years she continued to grow the business while also starting a real estate business and helping others start their own businesses. She was passionate about small business, the town of Brooklet and seeing growth in the area while helping others to get started with their own businesses. Juanita was named the recipient of the Dean Day Smith Service to Mankind award, along with various other awards and recognitions through the years. She set an enduring example of lifting others up and meeting them where they were. She was an active member and dedicated to both the Brooklet First Baptist Church as well as to the UMC of Brooklet, now Brooklet Community Church. She spent many years teaching the God’s Gifted Sunday school class where she became even more passionate and committed to assisting those with various needs.
Juanita loved travel, having fun with friends and celebrating holidays with family. In 1995, she married E. Dent Newton of Brooklet and enjoyed gathering with friends for fish fries, travel, golf cart rides, shooting guns, fishing and hosting countless family gatherings at the farm. She has often said she wish she knew how many roasts she has baked or how many cakes she has made. She grew to love many sports and has been known to be an avid fan of basketball. Of all of her enjoyments, her absolute favorite past time has been playing bridge with her wonderful friends. She has been blessed with the best friends in the world; a group of ladies that through thick and thin have been a support through many years. In addition to bridge, she has been involved in Homemaker’s Club, Brooklet Garden Club, countless church groups and various other local organizations. We all would laugh, thinking she had more going on than we did!
Through it all, Juanita has always viewed her relationship with Jesus as paramount to all else. Her heavenly father was always at the top of her list for prayer and thanksgiving. Even during challenging life experiences, she maintained her praise of “my heavenly Father,” and there is no doubt that while we are saddened by her passing, a heavenly celebration is underway. She is a woman who has made a mark not only on the lives of her family for generations to come, but on the lives of many who remain anonymous, and on a town that became her home and her passion. She loved people and she loved to see them work hard and succeed. She loved to provide opportunities to those that simply needed an extra hand. She will be missed by her family and friends as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and her brother-in-law of almost seventy years, Carroll Denmark.
The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Willow Pond, Southern Manor Home Care and Regency Southern Care Hospice as well as her lifelong friends who have been of immeasurable help and support over the last months and our wonderful cousin, Bonnie Mays Underwood and her husband Kai.
The family will receive visitors on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 1:00pm until the funeral hour, at Brooklet Community Church.
Funeral services will follow the visitation at 2:00pm in the church with Rev. Kirk Hagan officiating, assisted be the Reverend Doctor Rick Mitchell.
Interment will follow in the Brooklet City Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Mark Soliday, Daniel Denmark, Terry Strickland, Bryan Strickland, Shane Strickland, Ladd Marks, Greg Guest, James Nevil, Kai Underwood, Stuart Kurtz and David Dowdy.
Honorary Pallbearers will be her Southern Manor at Home Caregivers and Regency SouthernCare Hospice staff and care providers.
A Reception, to celebrate Juanita’s life will follow the burial, at the home of Daniel and Mindy Denmark, 300 Winnie Way, Brooklet, Georgia 30415.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Regency SouthernCare Hospice, 7 Allen Cail Dr. Ste A&B, Statesboro, Georgia 30458.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.
