Jeanette Smith Arrington

Jeanette Arrington

May 26, 1944 - Aug 28, 2024

Jeanette Arrington, was born May 26, 1944 in Washington, DC. She was the youngest in a family with 4 brothers.

She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Howard University and later a Master’s Degree in Accounting. She had a long career in law enforcement, including positions as a Washington, DC Police officer, US Secret Service Agent and OPM Federal Investigator. Later in her career, Jeanette worked as an auditor for the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development from whence she “retired” in 1997. During her “retirement” Jeanette focused on helping people. She provided accounting services to small businesses, became a certified housing counselor and later became a certified nursing assistant to provide eldercare services.

As a child and into adulthood, Jeanette loved both her nuclear and extend families. She was often a bridge connecting and actively reaching out to connect to cousins living in distant locations. This love of family continued when Jeanette married her childhood sweetheart Thaddeus Arrington, Sr. They married and had one son, Thadeus Arrington, Jr. Despite divorcing Thaddeus Sr., Jeanette maintained strong personal relationships with her in-law family providing solace, care, and mentorship as needed as the family grew older.

Jeanette loved Thadeus Jr. with her whole heart. Although, she had conflicting responsibilities as a single parent working in law enforcement, she took pride in sacrificing to ensure that Thadeus Jr. had the best education available. She inspired her son to achieve, but also encouraged him to develop and maintain a strong Christian faith. Throughout her life, this strong encouragement of education, spirituality, and achievement extended to other family members including Thadeus Jr’s daughter.

Jeanette acquired her spirituality at an early age. She was raised in the Baptist Church and re-dedicated her life to Christ as a young adult. She immersed herself in scripture and was a proud student and scholar of the Bible. Her deep faith powered her dedication to helping others through formal ministry work as well as forming deep, personal connections in which she went to great lengths to help family and friends in need.

Jeanette helped many friends through challenging circumstances providing hands-on help where they needed it most and her retirement was anything but sedate. Upon retirement, she moved to Rocky Mount, North Carolina and moved her mother to stay with her to provide daily care. In Rocky Mount, she quickly found herself a new church home, immersed herself in the community, established a social network for her mother and began touching the lives of her new circle of friends in Rocky Mount.

She was particularly overjoyed at the prospect of helping to care for her neighbors’ young child as the working parents sought quality childcare options for her. Jeanette formed a deep, caring relationship with the family, quickly becoming “Nana” to the parents' daughter, Danielle. This deep relationship continued after the family moved to Maryland and lasted until Jeanette passed in August.

Jeanette is survived by her son, daughter-in-law, brother, granddaughter, adopted granddaughter, niece and nephew. She leaves a treasure of memories, connections and examples for her family to follow.

Care entrusted to Beltway Cremation Center, Gaithersburg, MD, 240-246-0400, www.BeltwayCremationCenter.com.