Janice Violet McCoy

Janice Violet White McCoy was born in Eldorado, Arkansas to the late J.W. White and the late Mildred Henderson White on April 3, 1952. She was the oldest of three children. Her early years were spent learning and working in her family’s many entrepreneurial endeavors; her mother owned a beauty salon and “ran numbers” for her Victory Cab Company business, while her grandparents owned the gas station across the street.

Janice was a member of Free Union A.M.E Church in Eldorado during her formative years. She was a long-time member of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in Hot Springs before moving closer to family after her husband’s transition. This is the church where she and Willie raised their sons, the whole family being active members using their time, talents, and treasures to build up the kingdom. Janice was forward-thinking, working hard to bridge the gap with timeless traditions and coming-of-age technological advances. This was evident in every facet of the ministry, Janice serving as the director of music and pianist, within the audio/visual department, and especially with the youth programs. She then moved to Little Rock, Arkansas and became a member of Quinn Chapel A.M.E. where she became an ordained minister and remained a member until the Lord called her home.

She graduated from Eldorado High School in 1970. She attended Southern Arkansas University, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education in 1974. She started her long and rewarding career with the Hot Springs School District as a K-6th grade music teacher. She continued to work within HSSD for 42 years, on the elementary, junior high, and high school levels as a choir teacher and later in leadership roles. She was the assistant principal of Oaklawn Primary School and Gardner Primary School. She was later promoted to the principal position at Oaklawn. She was instrumental in Oaklawn becoming a Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School (currently Main Street Visual and Performing Arts). She later became the Director of Operations at the District Central Office. Among her many years in education, she also continued her personal education, receiving a Master of Science in Special Education from Henderson State University and a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Janice was a published author with her newest work “The Cup of Pain and Journey to New Beginnings” rounding out her four publications. She wrote this book during her healing process after her beloved husband transitioned in 2019. She was also a piano teacher, serving many youth in the community for more than 30 years. 

Janice and Willie McCoy married in February of 1977. To this union, three sons were born-Roderick (Tonya) McCoy of Springdale, Arkansas, Quentin McCoy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and William (Tawnya) McCoy of Rogers, Arkansas. Janice was very active in her husband’s and son’s many endeavors. Captain Willie McCoy (Hot Springs Police Department) was a long-time boxing coach and she traveled all across the country to his boxing matches. Her sons played many sports, including boxing, t-ball, and all the way to varsity high school sports. She could be found on the sidelines cheering them on faithfully. Upon the death of her husband, she started a nonprofit organization in his memory-Arts Academy of Learning, Inc. continuing his brainchild, Boxing Art, among other ventures. 

Reverend Dr. Janice Violet White McCoy leaves to cherish her memory, her sons and their wives, step-son Dorian (Carrie) McCoy of Knoxville, Tennessee, step-son Jeremy McCoy of Hot Springs, Arkansas, grandchildren Xavia, Quentin Jr, Kaelyn, Kenedi, Kaiya, Bryson, Violet, London, Brittanni, Jaylen, and Julian McCoy, great-grandson Jace, sister Beverly (Don) Hawkins of Eldorado, Arkansas, brother J. W. (Regina) White of Little Rock, Arkansas, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was a giant in the community and will be sorely missed by her family and the numerous people she mentored and taught through the years. Her legacy of faith, leadership, excellence, and love will live on in her children and grandchildren for years to come. 

To order flowers please call Mary & Martha's Florist at 870-246-2446 or Hot Springs Florist at 501-623-5536