Janet Pickett Couchman

Lois Janet Couchman passed away on Friday, November 28, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama, at the age of 94. She was born in Demopolis, Alabama on December 29, 1930, to Julian and Carrie Pickett. She graduated from S. D. Lee High School in Columbus, Mississippi and married Hampton Couchman in 1949. They were married for 60 years, living their final 3 years together in Birmingham. While raising five children, she earned her degree in library science from Mississippi State College for Women, and subsequently worked for 20 years at Fant Memorial Library at MSCW (now MUW). While living in Columbus, she was a member of the East Columbus Church of Christ, where she taught many children’s Bible classes and supported Hank as one of the elders for many years. After moving to Birmingham in 2006, she was a member of the Cahaba Heights church of Christ. She is survived by her children, Tom Couchman (Charlotte) of Aurora, CO; Bill Couchman (Melinda) of Birmingham; Judy Smiley of Ponte Vedra, FL; Liza Dyer (John) of Archdale, NC; and Bo Couchman (Teresa) of Birmingham. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Hampton Couchman in 2009, by her great grandson Marcus Wiggins in 2014, and by her son-in-law Mike Smiley in 2023. A graveside service at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus will be January 9 at 1 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Cahaba Heights church of Christ in Birmingham on January 10 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Fant Memorial Library at MUW (www.muw.edu/library/give/) in Mrs. Couchman’s name.