Janice was married to Paul Douglas Jenkins on Dec. 23, 1956, six months before graduating from Opelika’s Clifton High School in 1957. They were married for several years, and had two daughters, Pamela L Cox (Marvin) and Kimberly E. Jenkins. She also had 2 grandsons, Chadrick and Christopher (Krystal), whom she adored and loved to spoil, sometimes to the dismay of their parents. Janice also had two great-children Savannah and Drew, who brought her much joy and happiness in her last years. Janice is survived by a niece, Leigh and nephew, Scott, whom she loved very much, but didn’t get to see often. She had an extended family as well that consisted of great nieces, a great nephew, a great-great nephew, and great-great nieces who loved her very much, as she did them.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest F. and Mary J. Guy (Nee. Sanders), her sister Elaine Liner, and her life partner and soul mate of 38 years, John Nowell.
Janice grew up with a very large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins during the depression and World War II, molding Janice into the person she became as an adult. Her close relationships with her cousins lasted the rest of her life. Even though times were hard growing up, they had fun, creating many lasting memories.
Janice worked as a secretary in the front office of the West Point Pepperell Plant, here in Opelika for many years. But Janice wanted to do something different, so left the comfort of a stable paycheck to try her hand in sales. Although this took a great leap of faith of her abilities, turns out she was a natural born saleswoman and the risk paid off.
Starting over in a sales career depending largely on commissions was not easy, but Janice believed if you worked hard, you could exceed. So, along with selling insurance she worked two other jobs to make ends meet. At night she sold Home Interior or worked at her best friend’s store. Through determination and grit, she created a better life for herself and daughters. Later in life while still selling insurance, Janice opened a floral shop, letting her grandson Chad run it until she could retire from selling insurance. She ran the florist for several years until she began having health issues. She finally decided it was time to retire from all work and enjoy life more.
Once retired, she enjoyed the leisure life of traveling, visiting with friends, going on a cruise, and just hanging with her sister Elaine. This lasted only a couple of years. She returned to substitute teaching in the Beauregard Community, working for 15 more years before finally retiring for good.
Janice was a member of Central Baptist Church her whole life, except for the last few years, when she moved her membership to Providence Baptist Church in Beauregard.
Graveside service was held at Garden Hills Cemetery at 1 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2021.