Janet Joye Cameron

Janet Joye Youngstrom Cameron was born in Columbus, Georgia, on August 31, 1939, to William Emmett and Vera Earnest Youngstrom. Her older brother, James Randolph (Randy)Youngstrom, was already on the scene. When Jan was four, the family moved to Pensacola, Florida.
Once there, they found a home in the Brownsville area and two other sisters, Faith and Melody, joined the family. Brownsville remained their home. Her mother, Vera Youngstrom, was a charter member of Brownsville Assembly of God which, if you will, made her a charter child.
As a young person, Jan loved people and loved fun. Thanks to much prayer and the healing hand of our Lord, she survived spinal meningitis. She attended Brownsville Elementary School, Blount Junior High School, and then graduated from Pensacola High School in 1957.
One evening while hanging out at the Milk Bottle, she met a young sailor named Billy Cameron. He told her he was looking for a housekeeper. Her response was negative in nature. She invited him to a moonlight cruise with the youth from her church and he accepted. He continued pursuing her and they were married on February 7, 1958. She did become his housekeeper, but he was good to help with the chores.
Jan and Bill were married in Pensacola. Their daughter, Sabrina Lynne, was born to them on June 17, 1959. The U.S. Navy moved them to Portsmouth, Virginia, and to the marine base Cherry Point in the town of Havelock, North Carolina, where their son Scott Tyler was born to them in 1963. From North Carolina, they moved to Jacksonville, Florida; Norfolk, Virginia; Keflavik, Iceland; and then back to Pensacola. Bill had one more tour of duty at sea in Jacksonville, and after 30 years of moving around retired in Pensacola.
Billy was a very good husband and father, but did not attend church during these years. Jan made it a priority at each military station to seek out a good church and Christian community in which to raise her children. Billy often worked two jobs so that Jan could be a stay-at-home mother and be involved in her children's education and school activities. It was not until 1976 that she stepped into a part-time job at Hope and Bill Needham's Donut Shop, and then worked for Escambia County as an administrative assistant in the Archives Division from which she retired after twenty years.
Jan was quick to make friends and once you became her friend, you remained her friend. She had treasured friendships over seventy years old. She would befriend folks that others felt uncomfortable being around. Her memories of others were always with fondness. She loved sending Christmas cards and had a very long list of recipients.
She loved to eat out frequenting the Fishing Hole, the Waffle House, and the Coffee Cup. She knew the wait staff of each by name, along with their family history. She also enjoyed home cooking. Her specialties were Enchilada Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Deviled Eggs.
If you were around Jan very long, you discovered she was always looking for the fun of life. Whether it was a reunion with the family, a game of dominoes, a church social, or a ball game, she would be the one that laughed the most and said the silly things.
Jan was all about family. She kept in touch with aunts, uncles, and even those second and third cousins. She knew their life story and would search out where they were buried. She and her sister, Faith, were known as the Graveyard Grannies for their adventures in locating old family graves.
Jan's daughter, Sabrina married Arthur Grubbs of Pensacola, Florida. Her son, Ty, married Cecilia Hueble of Greenville, South Carolina, who blessed Jan with two grandchildren, Zachary Tyler and Anna Scott.
Jan is probably most known for her close and faithful walk with the Lord. As with most of us, she had a couple low seasons, but the love of God lifted her out. She learned to value the peace of God and dismiss any thoughts that would drain that peace by praying through them and claiming God's promises. She comforted others with the comfort she had received from the Lord.
Jan's life touched so many in generous and loving ways. Interactions with her left one laughing, lightened and loved. She feared the Lord, and those that know her rise up and call her blessed.
Brownsville Church was near and dear to Jan's heart. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the ministries of Brownsville Church, 3100 West DeSoto Street, Pensacola, FL 32505.
A visitation for Janet will be held Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 8:45 AM to 9:30 AM at Brownsville Church, 3100 W De Soto St, Pensacola, FL 32505. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, 3100 W De Soto St, Pensacola, FL 32505. A committal service will occur Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Barrancas National Cemetery, 1 Cemetery Rd, Pensacola, FL 32508.