Juanita Lenora Harwood

August 28, 1919 - July 23, 2018

Juanita Lenora Harwood, daughter of the late George Leach and Bertie Thames Leach, was born August 28, 1919, at Gadsden, Alabama. She entered into eternal rest July 23, 2018, at West Plains, Missouri, at the age of ninety-eight years. On January 22, 1937, she was married at Gadsden, Alabama, to Cecil Carl Harwood, who preceded her in death on May 13, 2002. With just a seventh grade education, she went from picking cotton, working in a cotton mill to being one of the first women employed at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Gadsden, Alabama. In 1958, she moved with her family to California where she continued her education and became a real estate broker. In 1968, she settled in Escondido, California and over the next forty years excelled in her real estate business. Mrs. Harwood served in several capacities, including President of the Escondido Board of Realtors and Judge and Member of the San Diego County Assessment Appeals Board. She enjoyed traveling the world with her husband and tending to her beautiful flowers on the hill. She was compassionate toward those in need, both family and those she encountered along the way, helping them with her spirit of generosity. Mrs. Harwood was of the Baptist faith. She is survived by two children, Carleen Albright, Escondido, California and Penelope fPenny" Brill and husband, Jim, West Plains, Missouri; one sister, Ramona Dunn, Gadsden, Alabama; nine grandchildren, Van Albright and wife, Gloria, Vic Albright and wife, Annie, Carla Albright, Aimee Webb and husband, Bill, Carrie Collins and husband, Kevin, Stacy Pyle and husband, Joey, Micheal Dunn, Darrell Dunn and wife, Toni, and Jenna Dunn; fourteen great-grandchildren• twenty great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Her parents, husband, one grandson, James Michael Brill, two sons-in-law, Charles Albright and James "Bill" Dunn, four brothers, James, Earl, Clarence "Hoss" and Neal Leach and one sister, Unekia "Bill" Brashier, preceded her in death. There will be a graveside service on Thursday, August 16th, 2018 at 11:00am at Oak Hill Memorial Park.