Ms. Juanita Moore

Juanita Moore was born on October 19, 1915 in Itta Bena, Mississippi. She was the youngest of nine children on the family farm owned by Willie Ella Dunn and Harrison Moore.

Juanita's mother, Willie Ella Dunn, was born into a prominent Methodist family. Juanita's grandmother, Belle McCain, was a former slave who was born on the Teoc plantation owned by William Alexander McCain in Mississippi. Belle's maternal grandfather was a presiding elder in the Methodist church and founded the first African American church in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1870.

Juanita’s father, Harrison Moore, was born on a Georgia plantation as a former slave. Her grandfather was also a slave owned by John Plunkett Moore in Washington, Kentucky. Being the youngest child, Juanita was pampered and protected by her parents. Her siblings called her "Nita," and she was known for being an independent thinker, as noted by some of her sisters. She was given more freedom than her older siblings due to being the last to be born. As an infant, Juanita was vibrant and had unlimited energy.

Juanita was a charming child who was born with a prominent mole in the center of her forehead, commonly known as a third eye. At an early age, when she became more aware of her mole, her mother assured her that the mole was something to be proud of, a sign of wisdom and vision. Her sister Aguinaldo remembers Juanita being very competitive at the age of three and once hooking a really big fish while they were together. Juanita didn't want any help until Aguinaldo insisted on helping her bring in the fish, which was almost as big as her baby sister.