Our beloved Mrs. Jannie Poole was born on September 20, 1925, in Ocilla, Georgia, to Dave Prater and Mary Pressley Prater. She was the second of eleven children and spent her childhood in southern rural Georgia. 

Mrs. Poole gave her life to Christ at an early age, joining Mt. Olive AME Church in Ocilla, Georgia. A couple years later, she relocated to Miami, Florida, seeking better job opportunities in Miami. 

Her younger brother, Dave Prater, also migrated to Miami and went on to become a world-famous singer and performer in the 1960’s R&B singing duo Sam & Dave, who made it to the Hall of Fame. 

Mrs. Poole was blessed with three children: daughters Mary Gatlin and Linette Robbins, both of Miami, and son Michael Poole (Susan) of College Park, Georgia. 

Wherever she worked or lived, she was very well liked by all who knew her. In her quiet manner, she possessed a beautiful sense of humor but never to the point where she lost the respect of adults or children, as she was fondly called Mrs. Poole. She smiled in spite of the pains of failing health. She will be sadly missed. 

In addition to her three children, she leaves to mourn two sisters, Bertha McMath of Miami and Helen Deberry (Albert) of Alapaha, Georgia; three sisters-in-law, Lois Oliver and Barbara Prater both of Miami, and Lois Prater of Ocilla, Georgia; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and other caring relatives and friends.