Janis Whitlock Smith

Janis Anita Smith burst into the light on Wednesday, April 7, 1926. She was the ninth child born to Lillian and George Whitlock in the palmetto-strewn scrub oak cattle lands of DeSoto County, Arcadia, Florida. A true child of the season, the light, rebirth and optimism of springtime would flavor her entire life. Janis was known to her family as “Sister” and while she held her own with her brothers climbing the families’ citrus trees and playing basketball, she also enjoyed having friends over and dancing in the family living room. Her father, George, worked in the timber industry and her mom kept the home running smoothly as she raised her children over the span of forty years!

Janis attended DeSoto High School during the height of World War II and graduated in 1944. She was popular and athletic. Her older sister, Erma (nicknamed “Bill”) was a nurse in the army and served in George Patton’s 7th Army during the liberation of Sicily and Italy. Upon Janis’ high school graduation, Erma encouraged her to get out of the little cow town and grow experientially and intellectually. She pulled a couple of strings and helped Janis gain admission to Jackson Memorial Nursing School. It was there that Janis met and fell in love with a country boy from Kansas who was interning in ophthalmology, Vernon Lauman Smith (Smitty). They eloped and married in Cooperstown in the Florida Everglades and traveled to Arcadia to share the news and introduce Smitty to the Whitlock family. Though the family doubted the relationship would last Jan and Smitty proved them wrong! It was the beginning of a long, beautiful life together and the start of their own family. 

The young couple lived briefly in St. Louis, Missouri until Smitty was called into service during the Korean War.  He was stationed in southern Japan where he would treat eye related war injuries. Jan and their first son, Gregg eventually made their way to Japan to be with Smitty. After the war they returned to the States where Smitty accepted a position as an ophthalmologist and a partner with the Medical Center Clinic and in 1956 they built a house in Cordova Park which remains the family’s home to this day.

Following Gregg, their family grew to include Kent (Twig), Rhett, Barry, and Candace. In 1960, Jan found a spiritual home at St. Christopher’s Church and the family began attending there. In 1964, Jan talked Smitty into purchasing a beach cottage on Pensacola Beach for a whopping $12,500! Summers were spent there boating, fishing, sailing, crabbing, scalloping, surfing and getting sunburned. Every fall was dreaded as school started, and the beach house was shut up for the winter and they moved back to the house in town. 

After her children grew up Jan took on a full-time position with St. Christophers as the head of Christian Education. Jan loved children and had a way of letting each child know they were special and loved. At St. Christophers, Jan founded the “Green Thumbers” a group dedicated to tending the church gardens. After working 10 years with St. Christopher's Jan renewed her nursing certification and worked at the Friary Rehabilitation Center in Santa Rosa County.

As the years passed, Smitty continued playing tennis and fished while Jan was eager to travel. She stayed closely connected to her children, exploring and experiencing their respective homes, careers, kids, and lifestyles. She visited Twig -a career entertainer and pianist- in places like Washington DC, Key West, New Orleans, Norway and Italy. She loved trying new cuisines and took pride in the fact that all her children enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes. Let it be known Janis was a lifelong University of Florida Gator sports fan and lived long enough to experience 3 national collegiate championships in both football and men’s basketball!

At the break of dawn this July 1, 2025, Janis (99 years old) gently left this world and eased back into the light from whence she had emerged.

Jan is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Smitty who passed two weeks after their 60th wedding anniversary, July 4, 2009.  Her 4th son, Barry also preceded her in death in February 2022.  

She is survived by children and spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gregg and Liz Smith, Amy and Craig Majer, (Molly, Cassidy, Lucas), Chris and Tanya Smith (Zane and Derek), Dylan and Lauren Smith (Nora and Mark), Twig Smith, Kelly and Josef Smith- Lindgreen (Lilou), Rhett Smith, Candace (Smith) and Paul Knobloch, Aaron Knobloch, JD Knobloch, Rachel Knobloch (Trevon, Kaydon, Jireh) and Barry’s son Chauncey Smith, Jan's sister Pat Sharkey from Washington State.

Her family and her many, many friends will miss her cheerful and kind demeanor, her love of life and her existential joy.

A Memorial Service will be held 11:00am Saturday, July 26, 2025, at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church.  

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to honor Jan’s love for children by helping children attend summer camp. Donations can be made to St. Christopher's Church who partners with Camp Beckwith (a ministry Jan was involved with over the years). 

St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 3200 N 12th Ave, Pensacola FL 32503, Phone: 850-433-0074 You can send a check to the church and in the memo write In memory of Janis Smith for Camp Beckwith.

To give online:

  www.scpen.org

On the Home page choose Give:  Regular Giving

Press: “Give Online” button

When you fill out all the credit card information there is a Note/Memo where you can write “In memory of Janis Smith for Camp Beckwith”

Thanks for your gift and love for Jan!