Janet Matthews Lakey

1933 - 2025

Janet Matthews Lakey

Born: May 26, 1933 | Died: September 3, 2025

Janet Matthews Lakey, 92, of Midlothian went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Born in Boonville, North Carolina, she is the daughter of Foster Matthews and Lucy McNeely Matthews. Janet is survived by her loving husband, childhood sweetheart and co-author of an epic love story spanning 69 cherished years, Harold Lakey; her daughter, Amber Rader (Mark); her son, Dean Lakey; grandchildren, Josh Rader, Matt Rader, Afton Lakey, Shore Lakey, Haven Lakey; great grandchildren, Reagan Rader, Lincoln Rader and her sister, Betty Jo Cannady.

Janet had a passion for teaching and attended both Wake Forest University and Appalachian State University to become a teacher. She touched thousands of lives as a Kindergarten and 2nd grade teacher for 36 years. She taught in Germany, Winston Salem NC, Danville VA, and in Chesterfield County, VA at Hening Elementary for 4 years and Bensley Elementary for 28 years.

Deeply committed to her church and to God Janet was a past member of Belmont Methodist and current member of Woodlake United Methodist. She loved attending church, Sunday school and working with their Missions programs especially the Sunday sandwiches and helping the homeless. Janet's faith guided her life. She was an avid runner on the Woodlake paths and through the Corolla neighborhoods, participating in the Richmond 8K and Ukrop's Monument Ave 10K from 1979 – 2015 only missing a few races and collecting many awards. She ran almost every day and was competitive in her races, always checking the newspaper to see how she placed in her age group. Most of the time she was first or second place. Janet was passionate about travel whether by car, ship or plane staying in hotels, tents, campers, hostiles, ship cabins and bed and breakfasts. The one constant in her travels was her husband, Harold, who was always by her side. Her favorite places were Alaska, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Australia, and our National Parks. She enjoyed meeting new people and made friends wherever she went. Janet would share their stories and adventures with her family and friends. She cherished her summers in Corolla, N.C. where she worked and played golf at Currituck Golf Club, ran and walked on the beach, enjoyed family time, worked on her photography skills and volunteered as a turtle nest watcher and protector. Janet loved the ocean, the lake, the sunshine and her beach house and she adored her family and friends from every walk of her life and tried to keep in touch by calling or sending cards and letters to as many as she could. She was always genuinely thankful for each and every one of them. Most of all she was a devoted wife, mother, "Nana", and "Great Nana". Janet proudly attended all their work, school and sporting events wearing team colors, carrying signs, cheering enthusiastically and always taking pictures creating so many "Mom and Nana memories." Her positive spirit, love of learning new things, putting her faith and family first and living life to its fullest are her legacy. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but we are happy that her suffering has ended and she is in Heaven with God, and reunited with her mom, dad and brother.

The family received friends on Thursday, September 11, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Bennett Funeral Home, 14301 Ashbrook Parkway, Chesterfield, VA 23832. Janet's funeral ceremony was held on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in Woodlake United Methodist Church, 15640 Hampton Park Dr Chesterfield VA 23832. Final rest followed in Dale Memorial Park. Memorial donations to Woodlake United Methodist Church Missions 15640 Hampton Park Dr. Chesterfield, VA 23832.