Janet Marie Harper

Janet Marie Winstead Harper, was a 78-year-old lovely kindhearted Christian lady, who taught elementary school for 35 years, having taught in Waukegan, Illinois, Plymouth, NC, and Craven, Pitt, and Edgecombe Counties. Two of her most enjoyable schools were Chicod Elementary in Pitt County and Coker Wimberly Elementary in Edgecombe County. She was a very dedicated teacher who wanted all her students to excel.
Janet graduated in 1965 from Fike High School in Wilson, NC. She then attended UNC Greensboro for one and a half years, prior to her graduation from Atlantic Christian College (Barton) in elementary education and a minor in physical education. She was on the very first girls' tennis team under Coach Barbara Smith. She was Vice President of her Junior Class and was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority. She later earned an Associate Degree from Martin Community College with a perfect 4.0 average and worked for 12 years as a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant in several settings, including Home Health, clinics, and hospitals, and in school settings, before returning to teaching.
Janet, also known as "Jan", was involved consistently in Christian work, teaching as a leader in BSU in Rocky Mount, NC, and through her membership in the United Methodist Church in Battleboro. Jan assisted with multiple church activities, including nursery care and leading Children's Vacation Bible School. She was instrumental in assisting her father, Bill Winstead, in donating furniture to the church parlor, resulting in the ladies of the church naming it the Winstead Parlor, in his honor. She was selected as Lay Person of the Year, among other recognitions in her church for her endeavors. She was always thinking of others. You had to be a pretty bad person to not be claimed as her friend. Jan did daily devotions and reading her Bible, praying for family, friends, and others, on a list as long as one's arm. She and her husband, Frank, also attended Williams Primitive Baptist Church.
Jan had hobbies of reading, living on the farm and hiking in the woods, doting on her pets (multiple cats and 2 dogs), gardening, growing flowers, photography, and artwork. She loved playing family tennis and traveling, including frequent beach or mountain trips, plus trips to Montreal, Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas, New York, Colorado, Florida, San Francisco, and Hawaii. Grass could not grow under her feet! She lived in the Chicago, Illinois area for three years, where her daughter Lisa was born in Great Lakes Naval Hospital, and where her husband worked in physical therapy. Jan later lived in Philadelphia, while her husband completed graduate school.
Jan's late grandparents are Ben and Patty Webb Winstead, and late parents are William "Bill" and Ruby Tedder Winstead, all of Wilson. She leaves her husband of 56 years, Frank (Leggett); daughter, Lisa Marie Harper Menius (Luke) and high school granddaughters, Harper and Stella Menius of Wilmington, NC; son, Shea Spencer Harper (Deborah) and high school grandson, Gavin of Paia, Hawaii. She leaves multiple in-laws and cousins, including special cousins/"sisters" Susan Winstead Murray (Lewis) of Lakeland, Florida, Barbara Winstead Derlega (Val) of Norfolk, VA, and "sister" Gail Parrish of Wilson. She leaves special friends, Debra Nixon and family, Francis Buck and family, Levi Moore and family, Lillian Stroud and family, Lawrence and Faye Gulley, David and Jonetta Anderson, Debbie Kirkland, and multiple members of the Battleboro United Methodist Church and Williams Primitive Baptist Church.
Thanks to ALL caregivers, family, friends, and churches and ministers for her and her family during her last days, and thanks to God for HER LIFE. May God bless all!
In lieu of flowers donations may be given to Battleboro United Methodist Church, William Primitive Baptist Church, St Jude's or Shriners Hospital.
After cremation, a family burial will take place. A memorial service will be on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Battleboro United Methodist Church.