Serita Jakes Biography
Serita Jakes is an author and public speaker. She is well known for being the wife of the American author, filmmaker, and pastor Bishop TD Jakes. Jakes has appeared on various shows like The Dr. Phil’s Show, and Oprah’s next chapter.
Serita Jakes Age
Jakes is 68 years old as of 2023. She was born on August 19, 1955, in Beckley, West Virginia, United States. Jakes celebrates her birthday on the 18th of August every year.
Serita Jakes Height
Jakes stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 6 inches.
Serita Jakes Family
Jakes was born and raised in Beckley, West Virginia, United States. She was raised in the church. Her father was a coal miner. Unfortunately, Serita’s mother died of a rare condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome, in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. Jakes also had an older brother but unfortunately, he was shot. The grieving of her mother and brother led her into an abusive relationship with a teenage boy, a violent man.
While growing up, she was a victim of bullying because of her weight. She also struggled to find a sense of belongingness with her peers, tried to fit in, and became a loner. During her time in college where she majored in drama, she tried to be part of her friends and began experimenting with marijuana, alcohol, and sex. Jakes vowed to change after her abusive partner put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her. She told called Magazine that she was raised in the church, but she went astray after joining the wrong crowd. Fortunately, she went to church and got baptized.
“I got in with the wrong crowd and started doing their thing, which I thought was my thing, and it was too fast for a little ole country girl like me.”Jakes said: “With the gift of knowledge, he revealed to me everything that was hidden in my heart about the tragedies that I had experienced, and he told me right there that I had a call on my life. My heart was immediately penetrated by the word of the Lord and I surrendered then and there, received the baptism of the Holy Ghost a week later, and have been running ever since.”
Serita Jakes Husband/ Serita Jakes First Husband
Jakes is married to her better half Thomas Dexter Jakes. Together they are blessed with five children, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Cora Jakes Coleman, Jermaine Jakes, Thomas Jr. Jakes, and Jamar Jakes. Jakes is fond of posting her children’s success on social media. She and her husband struggled early on in their marriage where they had to rely on social support to raise their kids.
They could not afford to buy diapers which led them to use paper towels and duct tape. Water and electricity were cut off one after the other despite the harsh conditions. The couple raised their children in a happy home. She recalled while talking to Called Magazine that she and Jakes played games with their kids by candlelight.
Jakes’s daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts posted a lovely message on Instagram for her parents on their 38th anniversary. She wrote: “Thank you for making our country, but also showing us, class… Thank you for refusing to believe what the doctor said after the car accident… Thank you for holding my hand when the doctor told your teen daughter to push… thank you for a lifetime of love that has shaped my world…”
Serita Jakes Children/ Twins
Jakes and her husband are proud parents of five children, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Cora Jakes Coleman, Jermaine Jakes, Thomas Jr. Jakes, and Jamar Jakes. Jamar Jakes and Jermaine Jakes are twin brothers.
Serita Jakes Grandchildren
Jakes is proud to be a grandmother of two granddaughters Amauri Noelle Coleman whose mother is his daughter Cora and Mackenzie Henson, from daughter Sarah.
Serita Jakes and T.D. Jakes Car Accident; a couple of years after their marriage
She and her husband Jakes met at Serita’s church during a revival. Her husband was a part-time pastor at Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith in Charleston, West Virginia. The two met shortly after Serita’s baptism, and he helped her find her way as a young convert. They also developed a personal bond during that time. On 29th May 1981, they got married which was a year and a half after their first meeting.
The couple had to endure hardship as T.D. found his feet as a full-time minister. It got worse for the couple after they suffered a terrifying accident. The accident severely injured one of Serita’s feet, and the initial diagnosis was that she wouldn’t walk again. However, Jakes refused to accept this diagnosis, and he helped Serita walk again.
Serita Jakes Net Worth
Jakes has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 Million – $5 Million which she has earned from her successful career as an author and public speaker.
Young Serita Jakes
Jakes was the daughter of a coal miner. She experienced bullying while in high school because of her weight. This led her to try and fit in with the cool kids in college, and finally, she turned to marijuana, alcohol, and sex. She told Called Magazine that she was raised in the church, but she went astray after joining the wrong crowd. “I got in with the wrong crowd and started doing their thing, which I thought was my thing, and it was too fast for a little ole country girl like me.”
Disaster struck when she was in college after her brother was gunned down in front of his daughters. Serita’s downward spiral continued after the tragedy, and she got into an abusive relationship with a violent man. Serita vowed to change after her abusive partner put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her. She told Called Magazine that her life changed after going back to church and getting baptized. Serita said:
“With the gift of knowledge, he revealed to me everything that was hidden in my heart about the tragedies that I had experienced, and he told me right there that I had a call on my life. My heart was immediately penetrated by the word of the Lord and I surrendered then and there, received the baptism of the Holy Ghost a week later, and have been running ever since.”
Who is Serita Ann Jakes?
The Jakes family is blessed with several talented authors, including Serita Ann Jakes. She has not yet hit the heights of her husband as an author but her books are quite popular. She has several books including Beside Every Good Man, The Princess Within: Restoring the Soul of a Woman, and The Princess Within for Teens: Discovering Your Royal Inheritance.
Jakes has many responsibilities as a mother, a church leader, an author, and a wife. It can be overwhelming, but she states that she has found a balance through prayer. She told Called Magazine: “All of those gifts and off-shoots of the hats I wear come from the character that He’s placed inside of me, and I can only give what He’s given me… We have a lot on our plate, but we know that through prayer and prioritizing we can do all things… If we didn’t have a prayerful state of mind, [ministry] would be overwhelming.”
Serita Jakes Illness/ Surgery
She underwent surgery to repair her herniated disc in two locations. After the successful surgery, she returned back to the church, thrillng.com gathered.
Serita Jakes Home
Jakes is the founder of Serita Jakes home, an online store that has a collection of home accessories that help transform a house into a calming, sacred, and peaceful place. She also sells home-beautifying candles in the collection.
Serita Jakes Weight Loss
When she was young, she said she was ashamed of her weight. This made her indulge in the use of drugs, alcohol, and even sex. Jakes has made efforts to reduce her weight.
Serita Jakes Instagram
Is Serita Jakes Still Alive?
Jakes is very much alive and kicking. There is no recent information about her illness.
What Happened to Serita Jakes?
Serita and her husband T.D. Jakes suffered a terrifying accident. One of Serita’s feet was severely injured. The initial diagnosis was that she wouldn’t walk again. However, T.D. Jakes refused to accept the diagnosis and helped Serita Jakes walk again
Serita Jakes Books
Jakes is also an author, she has written several books though she has not yet hit the heights of her husband as an author. Her books are quite popular and they include Beside Every Good Man, The Princess Within: Restoring the Soul of a Woman, and The Princess Within for Teens: Discovering Your Royal Inheritance.