Janet Parker Heiman

NEW BERN - Janet Parker Heiman passed away Wednesday evening, Sept. 7, 2011 at CarolinaEast Medical Center. Her passing marks the culmination of a life spent in service to others. Whether in her role as wife, mother, sister, friend, teacher, church deacon or choir member, Janet's greatest joy was encouraging and cultivating happiness in others. She did this with a calm grace that was the very essence of peace and love. Janet never rushed in word or deed, choosing instead to deal with any issue, big or small, with careful and measured cadence. She always felt that there was no situation that a warm, caring smile and a kind word could not improve. Her unflappable, dependable character will, perhaps, be what is missed most of all.

Married for 52 years to Maj. Peter M. Heiman Sr. USMC (Ret.) was not without its challenges. The wife of a U.S. Marine is asked to do a great many things in support of her husband's career - frequent travel, functions and quiet worry when her husband was in harm's way – which Janet did with aplomb. In fact, it played to her greatest strength – calm grace – and one of her most cherished interests – travel.

Education was an important part of Janet's life. She attended Greensboro College and graduated from Wake Forest University in 1957, majoring in music and elementary education. She made a career in public education ultimately retiring from Craven County Schools in 1998.

Janet's music studies were part and parcel to her most cherished endeavor – her church: First Baptist Church of New Bern. Janet was a multi-talented person with a wide variety of interests, but if asked, there was no doubt that service to God through First Baptist Church was her life's calling. Whether as a choir member (for 72 years!) or a church deacon, Janet and her church were so intertwined it was nearly impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. And it is for that reason we should view the end of Janet's earthy life with joy. A person more steeped in the Christian life could not be found. Her church and family will miss her, but this is far outweighed by the joy felt in celebrating the end of a wonderful life's journey.

She is survived by her husband, Maj. Peter M. Heiman Sr. (Ret.); three sons, Peter M. Heiman Jr. (Susan) of New Bern, Thomas Scott Heiman (Kimberly) of High Point, and David Wesley Heiman (Kimberly) of Fayetteville, Ga.; one brother, Charles Edward Parker, II (Marsha) of New Bern; and six grandchildren, 1st Lt Peter M. Heiman III (Katie), Taylor Heiman, Miller Heiman, Lora Beth Heiman, David W. Heiman Jr. and Georgia Heiman. She was preceded in death by her sister, Sara Elizabeth Miller.

The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church between 6-8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church with burial to follow at New Bern Memorial Cemetery.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers please send a memorial to the First Baptist Church Scholarship Fund, First Baptist Church, PO Box 1463, New Bern, NC 28563.

Online condolences may be directed to www.pollockbest.com.

Arrangements are by Pollock-Best Funerals & Cremations.

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