Janice Reeves Newlin

Janice Reeves Newlin of Spartanburg, SC, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2024, at the age of 79 after a short battle with cancer, joining her husband, David, who departed this world on July 3, 2023.

Janice was born on January 15, 1945, in Luthersville, GA, she was the 11th of 13 children to the late Luther Alton Reeves and Olene Presnell Reeves. Janice always treasured her siblings, particularly her sisters, who would continue to meet throughout their lives where they always laughed together and often played jokes on one another with Janice being one of the biggest instigators (according to her "older" sister Jenean).

After graduating in 1963 from Greenville (GA) High School, she moved to Newnan, GA working at the William L. Bonnell Company.

In 1967, she started her career with Brown Steel Contractors. Janice had many roles at Brown Steel but eventually worked her way up to Project Manager. Janice was well respected not only at Brown Steel but across the industry and cherished the many relationships she had with office staff, field personnel, and subcontractors over her career.

In 1997, after 30 years with Brown Steel, she married the love of her life, David Newlin, and moved to Brandon, FL, where she worked as a Project Manager for NEPCO (National Energy Production Company).

Janice then got her Florida real estate license and worked in the industry until she retired in 2007.

Janice was exceptionally athletic and extremely competitive excelling at any sport she played becoming a star basketball and softball player in high school. As an adult, Janice played volleyball and softball, often in men's leagues, and was the first female to hit a homerun at the Newnan Recreation Center. In her thirties, after learning how to play racquetball, she soon vaulted to the second ranked female in Georgia.

Throughout her life Janice's faith was demonstrated through her service as a teacher, volunteer, and as a missionary, but most importantly in the way she lived her daily life.

First Baptist Spartanburg was Janice's church family where she loved her Bible study group and working with the Refuge ministry. It was evident she loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus, and very much looked forward to spending eternity with him and all her loved ones that have gone on ahead of her, and being reunited with the loved ones she leaves behind.

Janice was a force of nature and will be missed by many; Her grace, strength, and fortitude were only surpassed by her modesty and service to others. A generous and loving soul, Janice (aka Nana) had a love of life and true understanding of what was important. She gave meaning to the roles of daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

In addition to her parents and husband, Janice is predeceased by siblings Doris Little, Ima Knowles, Hazel Walker, Mary Lewis, Sonya Spake, Bill Reeves, James Reeves, and Tyre Reeves.

She is survived by Zeke (her beloved Labrador), her son, Benjamin G. Bridges (Marjorie) of Lake Wylie, SC; daughter, Mary Brown (David) of Fayetteville, GA; stepdaughter, Dr. Heather Allen (Winthrop) of Spartanburg, SC; and stepson, David Edward Newlin of Orlando, FL; 7 grandchildren; Garner Bridges, Wallace Bridges, Triston Brown, Joshua Rigsby, Morgan Flynn (Jeremy), Philip Allen, Jane Allen, and great-grandchild, Wynter Flynn, her brother Douglas Reeves (Teresa) of Turin Ga; Sisters; Karen Wall of Thomaston, Ga, Jenean Wilson (Jim) of Greenville Ga; and Pam Crowe also of Greenville Ga.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

The family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Spartanburg Regional Hospice for excellent patient and family care, especially Donna Jolly. Also, to Brian and Keri Redding, and the First Baptist Spartanburg family, for their love and care during Janice's illness. Janice's caregivers: Kathryn, Keiasia, Kim, and especially Kaye Lea, who's relationship with Janice went beyond caregiving.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Spartanburg Regional Hospice, P. O. Box 2624, Spartanburg, SC 29304 or online at https://www.regionalfoundation.com/ways-give/hospice.