Assemblyman William Colton’s (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) heart goes out to the family of Jeanette Givant who has suddenly passed away.

Jeanette Givant was a lifelong Brooklyn resident. Jeanette was born and raised in East New York and was the youngest of the five children in the family. She attended Thomas Jefferson High School. After high school, her first job was at Merrill Lynch. Before she left work to raise her family, she was employed by the Marine Office of America.

When her children, Bruce and Marlene, went to school, Jeanette started work as a crossing guard for P.S. 177 at Avenue P and Dahill Road. She always said that being a crossing guard was the best thing because she always was available for her children. Jeanette was also involved with the Girls and Boys Scouts and was a part of her children’s Parent Teacher Association at P.S. 247.

“In 1982, she began to work part-time in the office of Assemblyman Frank J. Barbaro. In 1996, when I got elected as an Assemblyman of 47^th AD, Jeanette Givant continued to work for me as a community liaison and had been working in my office for many, many years. Over the years she had helped thousands of people in the community. In the office, she was known as Mrs. 311 for having and remembering telephone numbers of every government agency. Jeanette had helped people with different kinds of issues including quality of life issues, such as landlord-tenant, traffic lights, trees, potholes, and many others. Jeanette enjoyed helping people,” Colton said.

“In 2001, Jeanette was elected as a State Committeewoman/District Leader in the 47^th Assembly District. In 1992 she was honored and received the Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award. In 2000, she was made a member of the New Millennium Special Edition of “Who’s Who” and in 2003, she was honored and received the Women’s History Month, Pacesetter Award at City Hall. Jeanette had a kind heart and will be greatly missed. May her soul rest in peace,” Colton added.