Jannell Lee Sellman's Obituary
Jannell Lee Thornton Sellman was born November 30, 1973, to the late Deacon Clarence Edward and Queen Hester (Mack) Thornton in Washington, DC. She transitioned in her home surrounded by her husband and children in Lothian, Maryland, on July 4, 2024.
Jannell grew up in the Washington, DC, area where she attended DC Public Schools. She attended Paul Jr. High School where she was the valedictorian. She graduated from the Calvin Coolidge Senior High School, Class of 1991, where she received her high school diploma with honors. She was inducted into the National Honor Society. Immediately, she continued her education at the historical Howard University, Washington, DC. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 1995.
At an early age, Jannell joined the New Hope Baptist Church, Bristow, Virginia, where she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized under the leadership of Pastor Emeritus Reverend Robert L. Jones. At New Hope Baptist Church, Jannell joined the Usher Board and served several years. She later moved her membership and joined the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Lanham, Maryland, under the leadership of Bishop Charles Cato, Sr.
Jannell worked for many firms in the DMV area. She held several positions in the accounting field including: The Mills Corporation as a Senior Accountant, Thomas Sellman Inc., which is her husband’s company, the MIL Corporation for close to 10 years, and finally the Supreme Solutions for the last five years.
Jannell met the love of her life, Thomas Sellman Sr. in Baltimore, Maryland in 1995. They were married on August
10, 2002, and had three children: Queen, Jaylin, and Thomas Jr. ( missing statement)
Jannell loved her family and becoming a mother was a highlight of her life.
Jannell loved sports including bowling, badminton, roller skating, football and basketball. Her favorite teams were the Washington (Redskins) Commanders and the Baltimore Ravens. She was an avid reader of romance novels and the Holy Bible. Pride and Prejudice, The Color Purple, and the Book of Life were a few of her favorites. She proofread many documents and contracts.
Jannell was preceded in death by her parents, her niece, Charlie’, and most recently her sister Charron and brother-in-law, Stephen Thames.
Jannell leaves to cherish her memory her husband Thomas Leon Sellman Sr.; children: Queen Ella, Jaylin Lee and Thomas Leon Sellman Jr.; siblings: Victor Thornton and Tanya Thames; nephews: DeMarcus, Wesley, Ronald Clarence and Edward Thornton; mother in-law: Ella Louise Sellman; in-laws: Shirley Mae Sellman, Larry James Sellman, Sally Ann Sellman, Rosita Alesia Sellman-Parks; aunts: Bessie Russell, Kathlyn Patterson, Francine White, Ruth Thornton, Deborah Anderson (Gerald), Rosa Trueheart, Virginia Ward, Mildred Andrews, Rena Lee, Virginia Thornton, Georgia Thornton, and Covel Thornton; uncles: James Thornton (Dorothy), Charles Thornton (Amanda), and Garland Poole (Michelle); god-son – Jeremiah Morris Alicea; god-daughter – Imani Woods; and a host of other relatives and friends.
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