Juanita Campbell Mansker Obituary
Mrs. Juanita (Campbell) Mansker (91), long time resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away on August 22nd, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Earl Mansker (Tulsa, OK), son, Karl Anthony Mansker (Tulsa, OK), daughter Rhonda Lynn Mansker (Tulsa, OK), and brother, Tyree Campbell (Jonesboro, AR). Juanita was born in Harrisburg, Arkansas, on April 11, 1930, to Ida Mae (nee Oatneal) and Alfred Tighlman ("Bum") Campbell. Her immediate survivors include her sister Ida Lou (Campbell) Johnson; children Linda D. Mansker, Christopher E. Mansker Sr, Oran K. Mansker and Andrea G. Mansker-Allen; grandchildren Kymberly C. (Mansker) Rodriguez, Natosha M. Mansker, Jacqueline L. Mansker, Christopher E. Mansker Jr, Caleb J. Becknell, David A. Singleton Sr, Rhonda L. (Mansker) Murray, Brian K. Mansker, Melissa D. Allen, and Janice G. Allen; great grandchildren Lamont A. McDonald Jr, Mia N. Fox, Xiomara S. Thompson, David A. Singleton Jr, Divinity L. Singleton, Claudius C. Murray Jr, Destinee A. Murray, Aliyah L. Mansker and Noah K. Mansker; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Juanita was raised in Harrisburg, AR, and attended school in Marked Tree, AR, and Booker T. Washington School in Jonesboro, AR, graduating in 1946 at age 16 (2nd in her class). Juanita earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, then she taught music to elementary aged children, prior to moving to Tulsa with her husband, Earl, in 1949-1950. While in college and teaching, she sang and played piano with various black bands and musical acts which toured through the south, including regional big bands and blues artists in Little Rock, Memphis, and points in-between including the likes of B. B. King and Elmore James, amongst others. After moving to Tulsa, she began a career with the then-Model Cities Head Start program in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a Teacher's Assistant at Vernon AME Church Head Start in 1965. After advancing to Head Start Teacher, she subsequently transferred to the St. Luke's UME Church Head Start facility in 1969 as the Center Director, and in 1975 she became the Tulsa County Head Start Director. She earned a Master of Science degree in Child Developmental Psychology from Oklahoma State University and continued to serve her community in that position until her retirement in 1993.
As a Head Start director, Juanita played a pivotal role in the development of local program guidelines and metrics, working with other state Head Start directors and what is now the Region Six Head Start Association, drawing national recognition, along with the Muskogee Head Start director, for excellence. During her career, Juanita opened various Head Start facilities and programs throughout Tulsa County and created opportunities for many Head Start parents to earn Teacher Certification for pre-school education and subsequent jobs in the Tulsa County Head Start program.
Juanita's internment will be at Crown Hill Cemetery following a private graveside service attended by local family members at 10:00 a.m. on August 30, 2021. Condolences, flowers and memorials may be sent to Andrea Mansker-Allen, 3211 S. 82nd East Ave., Tulsa, OK 74145-1411.
