Ira Getaw

Ira Getaw, a resident of Birmingham, AL departed this life to eternal rest on March 7th, 2023. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, March 17th, 2023 at 11:00am at 1st Ebenezer Baptist Church with burial at the Alabama National Cemetery.

Ira Jean William Getaw entered this life on October 4, 1952, to the late Albert and Louiza Williams. She was the only child to their union. Jean was educated in the Birmingham School System. Jean made a very important decision in her early life, she gave her life to Christ and joined the Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church. She was baptized under the leadership of the late Elder J.B. Taylor. She was a faithful member and served faithfully at her church. Under the leadership of the late Elder Matthew Lee, she became a Mother of the Church. She served as a Sunday School Teacher for the Beginners, was a member of the Senior Choir. She will always be remembered for singing two songs beautifully, “God Specializes” and “You Brought Me From A Mighty Long Way”. Also, during meetings of the Greater Goodwill Fellowship Primitive Baptist Association, for many years she dedicated herself to be the Badge Seller. That was her way to meet and greet everyone there, because she never came across a stranger. February 27, 1972, she married her first love, Mr. Calvin Staten, Sr. with one child, Cedric. In that union six other children were born: Candy, Meme, Tata, Jeanita, Calisha and Bruce. They shared 28 years together. Years later she met and married on April 11, 2004, her second love, the late Mr. Paul Getaw. They shared 27 years together until his death April 1, 2022. Jean was kindhearted, humble, God-fearing and she never complained. She was always on the go with one of her children, and whomever of them she was with or talked to - her main, daily conversation would always include “I try to treat people right”, “don’t mistreat people the way they mistreat you”, “right is right and wrong is wrong and I’m for the right”, “do right because right will follow you”, “Heaven is my Main Goal, and “don’t miss your blessings”. She was there repeatedly when needed for her grandchildren; never said no, nor showed she didn’t feel like it or wanted to. She loved meeting people, and going to church, enjoyed listening to gospel music, singing, and reading her bible. Her favorite scripture was Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” She was a true and loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, church member, and friend. She will be missed by many. On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, she made her transition peacefully in her bed. She was preceded in death by her husband; daughter, Jeanita; parents, Albert and Louiza Williams; two brothers, Jamie and Eddie Dunlap; two sisters, Jessie Mae and Velma Willams; a special cousin, Idella Maddox and two close friends, Lubertha Harris and Sherrie Patterson. Jean leaves to mourn her passing and celebrate her homegoing, the father of her children, Mr. Calvin Staten, Sr., four daughters, Tirona (Gregory) Bender, Jumekula (Quentin), Jamisa, and Calisha (Wayne) Staten; two sons, Cedric Williams and Calvin, Jr. (Qualisha) Staten; two grandsons, she was left to raise, Christopher Staten and Daylon Hamlet; twenty other grandchildren, Fredriquez, Janerika, Jamorris, LaQuentus, Quenteria, Jalisha, Calvin III, and Javion “Peanut” Staten, Takeria Bender, Tywone and Tyrese Sewell-Bender, Spencer Wilson, Kendall and Quadell Jackson, Davian Moore, Derrick and Destini Underwood, Chynna Harris, Raykela Banks and Alyssia Gray; 18 great grandchildren, Briana, Fredriquez, Jr, Cordell, Dream, Myia, Mariah, Layla, Zola, Zoniah, JaMoria, JeMeria, Jeremiah, and Javon Staten, Ayden Bender, Xhyon Banks, Zimarious, Artesia, and Artavious Gray; sister, Annie Spencer; sister-in-law, Terri (Herbert) Williams; brother in-law, Ronald (Opal) Getaw of Los Angeles, CA; a niece she talked on the telephone to almost every day, Sheree Madison; two special cousins, Pearl Thomas and Shirley Colvin; her lifetime friend, Catherine Jefferson; special friend, Daisy Williams and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, Mt Pleasant P.B. Church Members, and friends.

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