Jean Vondale Surles was born February 4, 1951 in Laurel, Mississippi to the union of Eugene and Evelyn Hendon. She was the oldest of seven children and accepted Christ at a young age.
Having lived most of her life in the Akron, Ohio area, she attended Akron Public Schools and graduated from Garfield High School. Later graduating from the University of Akron, she then worked for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services retiring after 35 years of service.
Jean loved her family. She was a dedicated wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and grandmother. Family could be found at her home at any given moment enjoying gatherings. No occasion was too small. She would often open her home to lend a hand to those in need.
She was honest, forthright, and sought out for sage advice. She loved watching sports, playing bingo, and her cats. Having a trademark smile, she was funny and always had a joke that was right on time.
Jean enjoyed 52 years of love and companionship with her husband Beasley.
Jean was preceded in death by her father Eugene Hendon, daughter Nina Cantrell-Brown, son Donnie Cantrell, brothers Gary Hendon, Jimmy Hendon, Terry Hendon, and great-granddaughter Naomi Watson.
She leaves to cherish her memory husband Beasley Surles, mother Evelyn Hendon, son Melvin (Araya) Cantrell Jr, sister Vivian Hendon, brothers Kenny Hendon and Nathan Hendon, special niece Tina Hendon-Evans, brothers in law Howard Hughs, Earnest Surles (Chattanooga, TN), sisters in law Patricia (Wayne) Jones (Normal, AL) and Buel Walker (Chattanooga, TN), aunt Betty Lockhart (Ontario, CA), uncles Jesse Green (Washington, DC), Robert (Helen) Evans (Chicago, IL), John (Jewela) Evans (Laurel, MS), Frank (Bobbie Jean) Evans (Laurel, MS), grandchildren Allen (Juanita) Watson, Keisha (Jordan) Taylor-Stokes, LaVante’ (Kelsie) Lewis, Victoria Duncan-Cantrell, Melvin Cantrell III, Kane Cantrell-Murray, Melveana Cantrell, Zion Brown, Kyra Cantrell-Moore, Gabriel Tolbert, Melquana Cantrell, Doniella Cantrell, Lela Cantrell, 12 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, friends Brenda Davis and Sandra Starks, and a host of loving relatives and treasured friends.