JESSE DONALD “J.D.” TANNER
10/19/1944 - 09/05/2022
Jesse Donald “J.D.” Tanner, Jr. was born in San Antonio, Texas to Rosalyn (née Williams) Quarles and Jesse D. Tanner Sr. He attended Cuney Elementary School and Douglas Junior High School in San Antonio. He then moved to San Francisco, California where he attended tenth grade at Balboa High School. Jesse was a good athlete and lettered in track that year. He returned to San Antonio and continued to excel in track, lettering in track and football at Highlands High School his junior and senior years. Jesse had a strong tenor voice, which earned him a spot in the school choir. He was also lead singer in a group that would get to school early and entertain school audiences in the cafeteria with popular songs of the time.
Following his graduation in 1962, Jesse attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio for one year. He left San Antonio again to study at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. He returned to St. Mary’s University and in 1967 graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology. He began working as a Neighborhood Youth Coordination Job Counselor in San Antonio and went on to teach science at two local junior high schools. He worked for the City of San Antonio as a technical assistant for a time, then moved to Dallas, Texas. In Dallas, Jesse worked as a guidance counselor at a youth detention hall, where he was one of the first blacks to be hired. That same year, Jesse made the acquaintance of Linda Rogers, whom he met while she was a student at St. Phillips Junior College in San Antonio. Linda transferred to Texas Women’s University, where she graduated in 1971. Following her graduation from college, on October 5th 1971, Jesse married Linda Rogers in a small ceremony and the two settled in Dallas, Texas. From there, Jesse would become a juvenile probation officer. That role allowed him to go to graduate school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
He earned his Master’s in Liberal Arts Degree in Psychology from SMU in 1975.
In addition to his work as a juvenile probation officer, Jesse was teaching three times a week as an adjunct professor at El Centro College, now known as Dallas College El Centro Campus. It was during this time that Jesse was recruited by Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company. He accepted a position with this company and it changed the trajectory of this career. He worked in Fort Worth as a staff manager and was promoted to District Manager in 1985, a role that took him to Chicago, Illinois. During this time, he won numerous designations, but was most proud of being named District Manager of the year in 1987.
On a trip to a Washington, D.C. conference to receive his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) credential at American University in 1988, Jesse was recruited by Allstate Insurance Company. He became an award-winning manager and salesmen for the company, which allowed him to travel the world with his wife and daughter. He and two partners opened an Allstate office in Chicago’s South Side and he went on to earn two more designations from the American University by obtaining his LUTCF (Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow) and ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant).
But Golden State Mutual had followed Jesse’s career, and recruited him back to work in their home office in 1995. So Jesse moved to Los Angeles, California where he commuted between Chicago and LA. Jesse was serving as the Vice President/ Agency Director for all GSM offices in the United States. One of those offices was on the corner of Almeda and Wentworth in Houston, a point he conveniently used to persuade his daughter to move to Houston in 1998 to attend Law School at Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Under Jesse’s leadership, Golden State Mutual was the largest African-American owned insurance firm in the United States. In 2000, Jesse retired from the insurance business and he and Linda settled in Houston, Texas to be near their daughter.
Not one to sit around, Jesse decided to re-enter the workforce and began a second career that same year. His love for community and his belief that everyone deserved a second chance, led him to choosing to work as a Parole Officer. He was proud of his work in the criminal justice system, because he understood that his background allowed him to mentor and positively influence those who made mistakes in their past and get them on the right path. In 2010, Jesse decided to retire again, but this time, for good.
An avid jogger, who ran 5 miles every morning from his youth until the age of 73, Jesse spent his mornings on the jogging trails of Rice University and serving at the SHAPE Community Center where he was active as an Elder, until his health began to decline.
Jesse was a humble man, who helped a lot of people. He never bragged about it or even talked about it; you simply had to bear witness to his acts of kindness. He had a great sense of humor and could fill a room with his loud distinct laugh. His advice was priceless and was sought out by many. He left a huge impression on those around him, especially his daughter. Though life must go on, as he’d often say, it certainly won’t be the same without his presence.
He passed on September 5, 2022, less than a year after celebrating the 50th anniversary of his marriage to Linda Tanner, who survives him.
Jesse was preceded in death by his parents. He is also survived by his daughter the Honorable Germaine J. Tanner and granddaughter Gabrielle Simone Murray of Houston; sisters Gwendolyn Jenkins, (Othal) of San Antonio; Kim McFarland (Johnnie) of Houston; Sandra Chenault of Stockton, California; brothers Charles “Butch” Tanner (Barbara) of Houston and Robert Chenault Jr. of Stockton California; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends.
The family extends sincere thanks to Lorie for her devoted caregiving.
Visitation: Friday, September 16, 2022 from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. in the Rose Chapel of Mabrie Memorial Mortuary, 5000 Almeda Rd. Houston, Texas 77004. Recital of the Rosary will be at 6:30 p.m.
Funeral Service: The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church, 3006 Rosedale St. Houston, Texas 77004.