Janie Maedell Lewis Jennings Obituary (1934

Mrs. Janie Lewis Jennings, the fourth of thirteen children, was born January 19, 1934 in Nottoway County (Crewe), VA to the late John B. Lewis and the late Gladys Mae Chappelle Lewis. She entered her eternal rest in Heaven on October 4, 2023 at VCU Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill, VA . In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 54 years (1956-2010), William Reid Jennings, siblings: John Linwood Lewis, Viola Lewis Thompson, Ralph Washington Lewis , Ora Cornest Lewis Oliver, LaVerne Iona Lewis, Paul Edgar Lewis, and Otis McCoy Lewis. She attended and was baptized at New Bethel Church Crewe, VA at an early age. Here she sang on the church choir. Her father, John B. Lewis formed and managed a singing group called the "Lewis Sisters" which consisted of Ora, Mae, Annette and Janie. After marriage, she moved to Lunenburg County, (Victoria, VA) and moved her membership to First Baptist Church, Victoria, VA. During her active membership, she was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church Senior Choir, Missionary Ministry and the Mother of the Church. She had various jobs with substitute teaching being the main job. Out of everything she did, caring for people in her community was the most important job of all. Caring for the sick started out with her sister LaVerne who was handicapped. She took care of her mother, mother-in-law and finally her husband. Not only did she care for the sick, she also helped anyone that called and needed a ride to the store, bank or doctor's office. She was truly committed to serving others. Janie was a devoted member of the Order Of Eastern Stars OES, serving as the Worthing Matron among other major positions in the organization. Janie was a 1952 graduate of Luther H. Foster High School in Nottoway County, VA. She loved telling her adventures of walking miles to the one room Snead Spring School, with several grades and one teacher, named Mrs. Overby. She would tell how their jars of milk were kept cold in the spring until lunchtime. July 7, 1956, she married the Love of her Life William Reid Jennings and from this union two daughters were born. She was the matriarch of our family, she was small in stature but had a big voice. When she spoke, You moved! She enjoyed reading non-fiction books about famous people and not so famous people from our family. Janie enjoyed cooking fried apples and baking yeast rolls. Janie leaves to cherish her memory her two loving and devoted daughters, Cathy Elaine Jennings Liggon (William) of Victoria VA, and Carrie Agnes Jennings Wilson (Douglas II) Manchester, CT; two sisters: Alma Lewis Williams and Margaret Lewis Jones; three brothers: Griffen Abron Lewis, Thurman Wade Lewis, Sr., and Richard Edward Lewis, Sr., one step-grand, William L. Liggon (Tracie) "Little Billy"; four grandchildren: Janelle Darice Johnson Everett (Deon), Amanda Jennise Johnson Martin (Wellington), Douglas D. Wilson (Amanda), Victoria Adjoa Wilson, three great-grandchildren: Cora Belle Wilson, Zoe Olivya Everett, and Wesley Reid Wilson; three godchildren: Robert Scott Jr., Richard E. Lewis Jr., and Lorenzo Jones; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, First Baptist church family and friends; one special friend, Mr. Daniel Rather.