June Barbara Sexton

Sunrise -- September 15, 1931
Sunset -- February 8, 2016

June was born in the middle of September to Aline Smith and Alexander Miller. She was the only girl, having had two brothers predecease her as children, and another brother William who was many years older than her.

At the very young age of four, June was sent to live with relatives in Memphis, Tennessee because it was difficult for her mother Aline to work and care for such a young girl. Little June soon became a favorite of a beloved uncle Casey and aunt Helen, and also to her first cousin, little Helen. It was in this home and family that young June got her first dog who she named Pal. Then in her senior year of high school, Aline sent for her daughter to come live in California with her. Reluctantly, June made the trip out to California where she lived the rest of her life.

June attended Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, and recalled taking the street car to and from her school. She also remembered that there were very few black students at Dorsey during her time there and how difficult it was to get a date for the school dance! June developed a love for theater while still in high school, and said that she once considered a career in acting. However, after High School, she went on to college, first at Los Angeles City College, and later to California State University at Los Angeles where she obtained her Baccalaureate degree, as well as her teaching credentials. June also became a member of a sorority while in college, Delta Sigma Theta.

June met our father Thomas Sexton, and they married in November 1954. They bought their first home in View Park on Norton Ave, later our family home on Summerhill Drive in Windsor Hills. They went on to have three children, Karen Lynne, Teresa Maria, and Marc Thomas Sexton.

June taught in the Compton Unified School District for many, many years, eventually earning her Master of Arts degree which allowed her to become a Master Teacher for reading as well as a Mentor to new teachers.

Growing up with our mom we remember that she would spend hours preparing props and materials for her classes, often making things by hand. She made puppets, and soft boards and other tools that the children could use to learn how to read or perform their lessons. When Teresa and I were little girls, mommy meticulously sewed most of our clothes. She taught me how to sew at a very young age, a craft that too many young girls no longer learn. Both of the girls also took ballet, and participated in dance recitals.

We recall how much our mother loved to give us birthday parties. In our time children dressed up in party clothes to play pin the tail on the donkey, and other games. Punch was served in a crystal punch bowl with tiny cups, cakes and cookies and other foods were lovingly made by hand, seldom bought. Because all of us had birthdays that fell within the school year, one summer our mother gave us the best, most memorable party of all time; an "un-birthday" party. Based upon Alice in Wonderland, we had a party that didn't fall on anyone's particular birthday. Mommy made cut outs of the character's from the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, and all of our friends were in awe!

Our mother also loved Christmas time, and our home always looked beautiful. We had the best of everything, she left no detail overlooked. When she was in the hospital after giving birth to Marc, she made a fantastically detailed Christmas tree skirt that was used in the family for years. Later in our lives she continued to love Christmas, and she had amassed quite a collection of decorations, some a bit gaudy, but nevertheless, her style.

Our mother loved to shop, and she loved beautiful clothing and jewelry. Back in the day, we recall spending Saturday's playing hide and seek under the racks at Joseph Magnin's, I. Magnin's, Bullocks Wilshire, Orbach's, and so many other stores that no longer exist. One of our favorite memories of our mother was when she began to travel the world. We would eagerly await her return to go through her suitcases to see what
treasure she had brought us. Something from Brazil, or Jamaica or France perhaps? She loved to plan out those adventures with her women's social club, The Renegades, and we recall their parties and events where everyone would dress up and look so glamorous.

In 1988, June purchased a newly built home in the Inland Empire's Rancho Cucamonga area. Her mother Aline was well into her 90s by then, and so they sold Nana's house in Los Angeles and she moved with mommy to her first ever new house as well. When grandchildren continued to come along, June's house became Grandma June's house to Aubry, Bryanna, Brent and Elysse. She cared for all of them at some point, after school or just to babysit. Each of them has their own special memories of their grandmother.

We will not talk about our mother's illness except to say that it robbed us of many years with her. I guess we had anticipated that like her own mother Aline, June would live at least 100 years. But, God had other plans for her. As difficult as it was to watch her retreat into a different place, we knew that because of her very strong faith in God, and Jesus Christ as her Savior, our mom was safe. And so we prayed, and we prayed, and on the afternoon of February 8th, the angels finally came down and picked her up to take her home. We know in our hearts that Mommy, our mother is at peace.

June leaves behind her dear friend and ex-husband Thomas Sexton, her children Karen, Teresa and Marc, son-in-laws Troy Lawson and Anthony Williams, grandchildren Aubry Kabia, her husband Rashid, and three great-grandchildren, TJ, Eli and Alexander, Bryanna Smith and her fiancée Josh Lanphear, and Brent and Elysse Lawson.