CLAYBORNE Janet Givens was born on June 21, 1953, to the late Clara M. Lewis and William Edward Lewis, Sr. She departed this life on November 17, 2012. Janet was preceded in death by her younger brother, William Edward Lewis, Jr. Janet leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband, Carl Clayborne ("Papa C"), her two children, Everett (Tayna) Givens and DeShawn (Zackary) Gordon; three sisters, Barbara Young, Joanna (John) Burdette, and Mary Lewis; four uncles, Robert (Georgia) Givens, Lowell Givens, Denver Givens, and Steven (Phyllis) Givens; her Aunts, Norma (Marvin) Thomas and Thelma Masterson; a special cousin Dorothy (Anthony) Robinson; six grandchildren, Charrion, Maishara, Talya, Elijah, Isiah and Jamal, step daughters Sha'Carla (Cetowayo) Rashid and Shawnica Thompson; one great granddaughter, Zion; five nephews, Antoine (Michelle) Webb, Anthony Burdette, Michael Burdette, and David Burdette, and Shayne Lewis; a niece, Akisha Lewis, a great nephew, Wanya Lewis, and great niece Adrianna Lewis. Janet was also blessed with many special friends including Anna Johnson, Catherine Fry and Deborah Majeed. Janet was a 1978 graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. Her career as a public servant began with the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, first in the Community Development Office as a Loan Underwriter then as Development Coordinator for the Lexington Housing Authority. She was an administrative Aide to Mayor Pam Miller where she had oversight of the Office of Economic Development Small Business Loan Program. Janet was Director of the Division of Unemployment Insurance in the Office of Employment and training in Frankfort, KY. After retiring, she founded Sista' Works, a retail enterprise specializing in African-inspired art and fashion. Janet was the recipient of the 2009 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Coretta Scott King Spirit of Ivy Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership. In 2003, she received the U.S. Small Business Administration Minority Business Advocate Award for Kentucky. She was also a graduate of the 2001 Leadership Lexington Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce Community Service Program. Janet served on the Minority Business Development and Advisory Board, Equity Council/Fayette County Public Schools, Women's Enterprise Institute Advisory Board at Midway College, Board of Directors/Tenant Services and Housing Counseling, and was an Honorary Member of the National Association of Women Business Owners Lexington Chapter. She was a past Treasurer of the annual Lexington Roots and Heritage Planning Committee, served on the Board of Directors for the Carver Community Center Advisory Board, YMCA Black Achiever and a mentor in the Lexington Black Achievers Program as well as the Nia Day Camp for Disadvantaged Youth. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 from 6-8pm at Consolidated Baptist Church and Wednesday, November 21, 2012, from 10am-12pm at Consolidated Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, with funeral services to follow. The family can be reached by contacting Carl Clayborne at (859) 252-1062, or by calling DeShawn Gordon at (859) 967-3324. Arrangements, O.L. Hughes & Sons Mortuary.
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