Marinett (Jackson) Haynes Briellard

Marinett (Jackson) Haynes Briellard was born in Kilgore, Texas, on March 20, 1941, to Leo Jackson and Virsie Lee (Cooks) Wallace. She was the only child of this union. Both parents preceded her in death.

On April 25, 2025, Marinett was called home to meet our Heavenly Father, who awaited her with open and loving arms.

Marinett was raised by her single mother, Virsie Wallace, whom she adored. She always said that she wanted to be just like her mother, who embodied everything a mother should be. Virsie was a warm, genteel, soft-spoken, and giving person who never met a stranger. Marinett lacked for very little growing up, as her mother made sure she was well-dressed, well-fed, well-mannered, well-educated, and, most of all, a Christian.

Marinett attended Benjamin Franklin Junior High School, where, in 9th grade, she served as Vice President of the Student Body. She was on the Honor Roll for many years during Junior High. Afterward, she transitioned to George Washington High School, which was then known as the “Little Harvard of the West,” a nickname given by Reader’s Digest. She graduated in 1959. In the same year, she was presented to society as a Debutante. She then went on to attend City College of San Francisco, where she majored in Secretarial Science and earned her AA Degree in 1961. While at City College, she got her first job as a PBX Operator at the famous Green’s Eye Hospital in San Francisco, where she was the first Black PBX Operator and front office worker. Later, she became the preceptor and trainer for two friends and co-workers to succeed her after she left to work for the Internal Revenue Service as a stenographer in the steno pool.

While working at the San Francisco District Office of the Internal Revenue Service, she was recommended for a position in the personnel office as a receptionist, but this never transpired. Instead, she was switched to the position of Personnel Clerk, becoming the first Black person (male or female) to work in the personnel office at the district level. She worked for the IRS for over five years.

While working for the IRS, during one of her lunch breaks, Marinett met Wilbur Haynes. After two years of dating, they married on January 2, 1966. Wilbur was the father of Kenyetta and Wendell Haynes, the only children of this union, which ended in 1970.

In 1971, Marinett returned to school and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from San Francisco State University. She then transitioned to California State University, Hayward (now California State University, East Bay), where she studied to become a school guidance counselor. She completed two years of graduate work toward her master’s degree; however, she did not finish it until seven years later, just before her degree expiration. It was Marinett’s motto that she disliked leaving things unfinished—it was like pulling linens behind her, and she didn’t want anything “dirty” following her. She re-entered Cal State, resumed work on her master’s degree, and completed it in 1989, earning her master’s in counseling and educational psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family counseling. At the encouragement of a friend, she also earned her California Lifetime Teaching and Lifetime Counseling Certificates.

As a young single parent, Marinett did everything she could to ensure her children attended what she believed were the best schools—schools that were outside of her designated school district. She regularly attended school district meetings to advocate for her children’s education and made sure to support them in every way she could, whether it was assisting with school projects or attending school functions like open houses and parent-teacher conferences.

Marinett was a very generous mother who took great pride in ensuring her children were happy and felt her love. She often celebrated birthdays and holidays with parties, sleepovers, Easter egg hunts (inside and outside), and trips across the United States, including camping at Yosemite National Park and Clear Lake, as well as visiting extended family in Los Angeles, Virginia, and Hawaii. She also made sure her children believed in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus for many years, telling them she couldn't afford gifts at the time. Once, a friend of her son Wendell tried to tell him that his mother was Santa Claus, but Wendell disagreed, stating his mother was too poor to be Santa and didn't have any money. Little did her children know, Marinett often saved for an entire year to buy Christmas gifts so they would have presents to open on Christmas Day. When her daughter, Kenyetta, was older, she recognized her mother’s handwriting in the letters to Santa and realized that Mama was Santa Claus.

For more than 20 years, Marinett remained single until she reconnected with an old school friend from Junior High, Clement Briellard. They rekindled their friendship, and the rest is history. They married on September 14, 1991, at the age of 50, and enjoyed 33 years of marriage.

Marinett worked in various capacities, retiring as a Stenographer from Alameda County, a Revenue Officer from the Internal Revenue Service, an Investigator from the Department of Labor, a Legal Assistant II and Personnel Assistant II from Alameda County Transit District, and as a Personnel Analyst II from the City of Richmond, California.

Marinett accepted Christ as her personal Savior at the early age of 11, joining the Mount Zion Baptist Church in San Francisco, where she remained until age 21. Seeking new direction, she joined Jones Memorial Methodist Church, where she remained until she moved to Oakland, California. After arriving in Oakland, Marinett became a member of the Church by the Side of the Road (a non-denominational community church), where she served for over 25 years in various capacities, such as singing in the Women’s Choir, chairing the Pastor’s Anniversary Committee, serving as Secretary of the Women’s League, and working on the Outreach Committee, which served meals to the homeless every month. Marinett loved this position, as it fulfilled her joy of serving others—remembering everyone’s preferences for food and drinks made her feel fulfilled.

Initially, Marinett was not a member of the Church of Christ when she and Clement reconnected and later married. However, she occasionally attended worship with him at the San Pablo Avenue Church of Christ. The congregation made her feel welcome, and she was even allowed to sing with the Bay Area Mass Chorus, despite not being a member. Over time, she became involved in church classes and gained a deeper understanding of the “one church” and “What’s in a name?” Marinett remained with the San Pablo Avenue Church, where she contributed in various ways.

After Marinett and Clement married, they looked for a new family home. Their first home had been where Marinett and her children had lived since 1968. After a long search, they found a home in Stockton, California, and moved there in 1998. They remained there until relocating to Rockwall, Texas, in 2005.

Once in Rockwall, Marinett found a church she loved, the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ. She often told her friends that she didn’t need to visit other congregations because she had everything she needed at Greenville. While there, she served on various committees, including annotating guest members each Sunday, serving on the Adolescent/Ladies Symposium Registration Committee, the Women’s Conference Registration Committee, and the Encouragement Ministry Team for two years, uplifting those in need of prayer. She also served on the food ministry, helping to serve meals at funerals, and participated in the Birthday Committee for Service Group 4, among other roles.

Marinett loved to read and was a member of the book club Reading Between the Lines, which consisted of numerous ladies from Greenville. She had been a member for over 16 years. Additionally, she was part of the “Red Hats” Society for several years and was a long-time member of the “Sorta Sisters” group—ladies who had moved to Rockwall from other states and connected through various friendships and associations.

Marinett leaves many to cherish sweet memories, including her husband, Clement; her two children, Kenyetta Elise Haynes (Oakland, California) and Wendell Tyrone Haynes (San Leandro, California); and her grandson, Tiernan Kendall Haynes (Germantown, Tennessee).

She also leaves behind her extended family: daughter Angela Briellard and grandson Rodney Calvin Jr. (Sacramento, California); sons Randall Briellard (Los Angeles, California); Kahlil Briellard (South Carolina); Michael Haynes (Freda) (Melbourne, Florida); Ronald Haynes (Jolinda) (Long Beach, California); Olu Haynes (Fay) (New Haven, Connecticut); Wilbur Haynes, Jr. (Lorraine) (Loganville, Georgia); Varney Haynes (Ibeth) (Lawrenceville, Georgia); daughters Andrea (Haynes) Telfair (Oscar) (Houston, Texas) and Logann Haynes (Savannah, Georgia).

Marinett also leaves behind her beloved brother, Minister Byron Jackson (Jeannette) (Winona, Texas); her sister, Barbara Jackson Moore (Bruce) (Alhambra, California); her sister-in-law, Dr. Carlie Tartakov (Gary) (Amherst, Massachusetts); her brother-in-law, Dr. Toussaint Streat (Fresno, California); and her dearly beloved sister-friends of 71 years, Bettye Gordon, Dorothy Scott, and Sarah Lowrey. Her brother-friend of 71 years, Donald Greene, and a host of relatives, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and friends also survive her.

All are welcome to join us via live stream on this memorial page at

11:00 AM on MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2025,

as we celebrate the life of our beloved Marinett. Click the link below:

Celebration of Life for Marinett (Jackson) Haynes Briellard

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