Jevon Pruitt

Jevon Claudmarius Pruitt was born May 16, 1979 to Eulena Elizabeth Copeland and Renaldo Milton Pruitt.  Her beloved mother and brother Renaldo Sanchez Brown preceded her in death. She was educated in the Metro Public School System.   Due to the vicissitudes of life, she did not graduate with her class.  But her desire for better, and encouragement from her family, she obtained her GED through the Metro Action Continuing Education Program, and later studied at Nashville Technical State College.

Von as she was affectionately called was raised in a Christian family and she accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age.   She was baptized at St. Teresa Holiness Science Church under the late Rev. Jennie Benson Vaughn. In 2016 she united with Watson Grove Baptist Church under Reverend Dr. John R. Faison, Sr.

At the age of nineteen Von was diagnosed with Type 1, Diabetes which is very hard to control.   Hereditary High Blood Pressure soon followed, coupled with the adverse effects of cigarette smoking, Von’s health battles ensued.  

Von always wanted children so when Kendra was born she was so happy.  Determined to have a better life she went to work for The Red Cross of America.  Later she studied and became a Pharmacy Assistant with Walgreens Incorporated.  In 2013 she would give birth to her son, James and Von’s family of three was complete.  

Jevon was blessed with a giving heart, beautiful smile and a humble spirit.  Always giving more than she got, seeing the good in others, always giving others the benefit of the doubt proved to be both a blessing and a curse.  Her Mother seriously spoiled her, while her Dad believed  more in discipline so Von clung to her Mother and consequently matured much too slowly for the world that surrounded her. So when Eulena died in 2014, Von really needed more moral, an earthly support than ever, and her Sister/Aunt Mickey, was right there and tried to be that for her. Her sister/cousin Net, tried until her own health challenges arose.  Many times they leaned on each other, as the Bible declares, Two is better than one, if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. (Ecc 4v 9)  But no one can do everything for us, our own choices, have consequences.

  Von loved her children deeply and could always be found trying to provide the things they said, would make them happy.    As Diabetes continued to takes its toll on her little body, she sadly was in and out of the hospital with surgeries on her left foot and related problems.  Von devoted her attention to taking care of “her kids” as she lovingly called them and many times neglected herself.  At age 41 she had her first major heart attack requiring resuscitation and life support, but by God’s grace she was able to fight her way back to “her kids”.   But she was physically and emotionally weaker and her body was still under attack from those chronic diseases. Truly Von, could have said as Langston Hughes did “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”   But her smile, you almost never saw her that she did not give you that beautiful smile trying, so often, to cover the pain, she was living through, now she is forever pain and suffering free! TGBTG

Jevon will forever be cherished by her daughter; Kendra Faith Pruitt son; James Webb Jr., father, Renaldo Pruitt; step-father, Wayman Wiley; step-mother, Pricilla Goldsmith; step-sisters Kenretha Goldsmith and Deborah Armstrong; aunts, Reverend Claudia (Phillip)Wright, Mother Sylvia Burnett, devoted sister/aunt Michelle Copeland, T.Wynette Copeland, and Marilyn Pruitt, uncle; Samuel Copeland; Eleven cousins from childhood; all of Nashville, TN, a beautiful host of other cousins, great uncles; great aunts and other relatives; devoted neighbors Mona Murray and Tanya Holt; companion relationships James Webb Sr. and LeRoy Carey.