Jannie Lee Saygo

Jannie Lee Saygo was born on July 8, 1937, in Greenwood, Mississippi. She was Jim and Sarah Garner’s fourth child. At the age of 12. Jannie accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and was baptized at their Family Church, Pillow Chapel, under the leadership of Reverend Carver. 

Jannie attended Money High School, and she enjoyed singing with her brother and sisters (The Garner Singers) during a live gospel broadcast. She was well-known for assisting her mother with cooking, cleaning, and caring for her younger siblings. 

The union of Charlie Saygo and Jannie Garner began in September 1956 in Greenwood, Mississippi. Their journey as a married couple marked the start of a remarkable family legacy. 

In 1957, Charlie and Jannie relocated to Chicago, Illinois, seeking new opportunities and a fresh start. After several years in Chicago, they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1965. It was in Milwaukee that they made the conscious decision to raise their growing family, which would eventually include eight children-five boys and three girls. 

The family became active members of Hopewell Church, where Jannie laid a strong foundation of faith and love for her family. Most importantly, Jannie Lee Saygo loved the Lord Jesus. She always stated, “I am who I am by the grace and mercy of God, who deserves all glory and honor.” Her favorite scripture was Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Another beloved verse was Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” A woman of humility, brilliance, gracefulness, and love (To God be the Glory), Jannie’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. 

Her devotion to her children was evident in every aspect of her life. She attended all their sporting events and school activities, showing unwavering support and pride in their accomplishments. Milwaukee was the backdrop for countless trials, tribulations, fond memories, and cherished experiences for the Saygo family. Through it all, Jannie’s strength and love held the family together, creating a warm and nurturing environment for her children to grow and thrive. 

In 2013, after nearly five decades in Milwaukee, Jannie made the significant decision to relocate to Dallas, Texas. This move marked a new chapter in her life, but her love and dedication to her family remained steadfast. 

During her time in Texas, Jannie continued building on her faith in God and spending precious moments with her family. Aside from her birth children, she gained many other sons and daughters through her relationship with many of her children’s friends and associates. A beacon of light that shined so bright, GOD allowed her to be a mother to the motherless and impart wisdom to many boys, girls, men, and women. The same dedication she displayed to her children, she applied to her grandchildren by attending all their sporting events and school activities. Jannie was a true sports fan, and some of her favorite teams and players were the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bears, Donald Driver, Lebron James, Mike Tomlin, and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Oh yes, mama was a BAMA girl. She enjoyed her favorite movies, “The Temptations” and “Air Force One”. And the likes of her favorite gospel songs, “If Jesus Can’t Fix It, Nobody Can”, “Come on in the Room” and Mahalia Jackson’s “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” 

Jannie, also known as Silver Foxx, for that beautiful silky gray hair that remained intact all the time. There was not one stylist she encountered who kept that hair on point. Long and short, with braids, curls, and waves; she wore all with elegance and grace. She was consistent with her hair-standing appointments every other Friday at 9:00 A.M. Jannie was good at keeping a secret. If you reached out to her for guidance and confidentiality, you could best believe that’s exactly where it remained. Respect and loyalty were important qualities to her. 

Jannie will be dearly missed, but the affectionate loving memories will live on in the hearts of many. She leaves this legacy of love to her family she lived with boldness: Husband, Charlie Saygo; (5) sons: Charles B. Saygo, Kenneth Saygo, Jeffery Saygo (Carmen), of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Christopher Saygo (Laquanda), Demetrius Saygo (Kia) of Dallas, Texas; (3) Daughters: Janet Saygo, Denise Henderson (Ronald) of Dallas, Texas; Patricia Saygo of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; (2) Sisters: Viola Stanley and Annie Tate of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; A special cousin, Shedrick Campbell (SB) of Chicago, Illinois; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and devoted friends. 

Jannie is preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Sarah Garner, her brothers, Charlie Garne, EB Garner, and Roosevelt Garner; her sisters, Isabella Holmes and Sarah Fenner; her granddaughter, Salaih Teonna Saygo; and her grandsons, Melvin J. Grice, III, Meldrick L. Grice, and Melvonte T. Grice; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Henry and Rosie Stuckey. 

Jannie Saygo’s life story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the enduring power of love. Her legacy lives on through the cherished memories and values she instilled in her family. 

Now that her earthly journey is complete, we will forever remember Jannie Lee Saygo, her Legacy will live on. 

We battled the good times, the bad times, and the greatest of times. Together.
The way you carried yourself only motivated your family to withstand all that came our way.
Being a person that inspires others was one of your goals and you did it very well.
You were the vessel that kept, protected, encouraged, stimulated, and guided your family through the journey of being born and continued to mold us as we started to grow.
The one thing you have never done in life is complaining because you never let us see you upset or uninspired to be successful.
We all knew that angels were a real thing because you always moved and spoke with an angelic voice.
If ever there was a person to follow, admire, or try to emulate, it was definitely YOU.
We want to thank you for showing us the way and leaving crumbs on the earth for us to follow. You are the true definition of an angel on earth, so we will continue to shine because you laid the foundation for success.

To view the livestream of the service use this link: 

https://video.ibm.com/channel/zsnsKqhkr6U