Jannis Whichard

Jannis Adele Jones Whichard quietly passed away on Thursday morning, April 3, 2025, while in hospice care in Georgia.

Jan's energy, compassion and deep faith made a lasting impact on almost everyone she met, and she easily made friends wherever she went. She was born on November 23, 1937, in Charlotte, NC to George and Adele Jones. In addition to having younger siblings, she also had 26 younger cousins which she often babysat. She adored babies and young children and had a knack for entertaining them.

After graduating from Charlotte Catholic High School, she attended a year of secretarial school at Barry College in Florida. She then moved to Thomasville to work at Thomasville Furniture. Her housemate's boyfriend at the time introduced her to Charles Whichard whom she soon began to date. On December 22,1962 she married Charlie and they soon moved to Greensboro, NC where Charlie began a career in accounting.

The following year she began her favorite vocation of motherhood. She was a devoted wife and mother. She happily stayed at home and raised her four daughters. Jan did put her secretarial skills to work later in life, working for Atlas Fence. Her home was always open to all her children's friends and she also hosted two exchange students, one from Ireland and one from Columbia. Both girls, though now grown and with families of their own, continued to keep in touch with her through the years and so did their parents.

She always remembered birthdays and special occasions of relatives and friends. One of her daughters called her a 'walking thesaurus of people's special dates.' Jan delighted in sending cards and/or making phone calls to commemorate special occasions of loved ones. She was very sociable and loved parties, going bowling and hosting Rook card games. Jan enjoyed taking walks in her earlier years and instilled that past time in her daughters. She also loved to travel and went on many cruises with Charlie.

She was devoted to God and the Roman Catholic faith. Jan faithfully attended daily Mass as well as a prayer group on Monday nights for several years. She had a servant's heart and readily volunteered both in the church and her community. Jan was a phenomenal cook and loved sending her daughters to the neighbors on holidays to deliver freshly baked sweets.

In her later years she enjoyed watching her favorite game show of Wheel of Fortune and Hallmark movies. She was very good at word games and loved to read.

After her beloved Charlie passed away in June her daughters moved her to an assisted living home in Georgia to be close to her two youngest daughters who lived in the Atlanta area. She spent the last nine months there, where she won the hearts of many residents and staff.

She is preceded in death by her two brothers Jerry and Clark Jones as well as her beloved Charlie. Surviving are her daughters Julie Breneman, Wendy (Ross) Heins, Amy (Matt) Smith and Joy Whichard as well as her grandchildren Celina Breneman, Ryan (Kate) Heins, Jase Heins, and Peyton Smith. Also her younger sister, Mary Hibbard.

A memorial service will be held at 11AM on Monday, May 19, 2025 at St. Pius X Church followed by a reception in the parish hall. The address is 2210 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27408.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to:

St Francis Springs Prayer Center: 477 Grogan Rd, Stoneville NC 27048. (336) 573-3751. Website for online donations: https://www.stfrancis.today