Janice Baum

Janice Lankford Baum NORFOLK - Janice Lankford Baum died as she lived: peacefully overlooking the Currituck Sound surrounded by her loved ones on Sept. 12, 2010. Born Oct. 13, 1912, to Pastor William Eley Lankford and wife Celia Pearl Cox in Appomattox, Va., Janice was raised in Drewryville, where her father served as pastor of Thomas Memorial Baptist Church. Janice graduated from Averett College. When folks asked her how she lived so productively for so long, Janice would reply: "I eat right, I do right, and I love everybody!" And so she did, praising her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ all the way along. She was taught to serve as was her older brother McClenny, who served as an Army nurse during World War II and the Korean conflict and later attended President Dwight Eisenhower following a heart attack. Although not trained medically, we called her "our Florence Nightingale" because she looked after many who were infirmed and often chauffeured others to their doctors' appointments. After college, Janice moved to Norfolk and won the heart of Cecil Forbes as well as the hearts of his family. The Forbes family was close to Janice following the death of husband Cecil and remained so throughout her life. She continued to care for Uncle Billy Burgess in Norfolk after the loss of his Helen until he left this world shortly before his 100th birthday. Janice wed and sustained E.O. "Jack" Baum of Elizabeth City, N.C., earlier widowed by Submit Fearing, another dear friend of Janice. Janice worked at the Mary Pretlow Memorial Library in Ocean View until mandatory retirement at age 70. After Jack moved to heaven, Janice cared for her longtime friend Mrs. Eoline "Tommy" Binford of Norfolk until her passing. Janice traveled to Charlottesville in August 2009 for a Binford Family Reunion, where she was thrilled to spend time with her Binny Boy, renowned archeologist Dr. Lewis Roberts Binford and wife Amber of Missouri. For the past few years, Janice Lankford Baum blessed the Moyock, N.C., home of her cousin Wesley and Bette Jo Baum and adopted granddaughter, Marybeth Hunter. Although Janice had no natural children, she loved many as if they were her own including her brother's children in Colorado: Maxine Lankford, Michael and Linda Lewis Lankford and Michelle and Leroy Salazar and children Gabe, Lukas and Rosie Salazar. Janice received many friends and relatives on the Currituck Sound including: Linwood Tabb III and wife Marcia and Lee Tabb Lauterbach, nephew and niece of Uncle Billy Burgess. Her adopted son from Tennessee, Manfred Wendland, stayed beside Janice through her final weeks. Janice Lankford Baum was a truly gentle soul, who always found something for which to be thankful in even the most difficult circumstances. Her kindness and humor and grace serve as a shining example to all who knew and loved her. Serving faithfully to the end, Janice donated her body to East Carolina University Medical School. Her dedicated life will be honored by family and friends upon return of her ashes.