Retired Kanawha County school teacher Janice Means, 72, a life-long resident of South Charleston, (Alum Creek) died of congestive heart failure on April 12, 2008.
Known for her Christian faith and love of Christian music, Janice was born on July 4, 1935, at South Charleston. She attended Brounland Elementary, Washington District High School, Bob Jones University (B.S.degree in Elementary Education), and Marshall University (M.A. in teaching reading). Additional course work was completed at Morris Harvey College in Charleston and the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Janice’s teaching career took her to Olcott, Alum Creek, Holz, and Tyler elementary schools. Eventually, she also served as a teacher at Cross Lanes Christian School and Colonial Hills Christian School in Atlanta.
In 1957, Jan served as a missionary with the New England Fellowship. During that service she worked in a number of locations, including: Pough Keepsie and Hyde Park, New York; Northfield, Massachusetts; Vermont; and New Hampshire. The focus was primarily on child evangelism.
As an exceptionally talented pianist, she served for many years at Hopewell Baptist Church (Alum Creek), Cross Lanes Bible Church (seniors group), and at most churches that she attended. During the 1950s, she played for several music groups. In 1963, while attending the University of Colorado, she taught a class and played the piano for a vacation Bible school run by a Boulder Nazarene Church.
Janice was preceded in death by two infant siblings (Marvin Hursell Means and Barbara Dare Means); her parents, Hursell and Vera Dodson Means; her grandparents, Herbert Clarence and Emma Sisson Means;Lon and Allie Childress Dodson; and her Great Grandparents, Daniel and Almeda Mooney Means, Wilbur and Eliza Hundley Sisson, Andrew Jackson and Margaret Hawley Dodson, and Robert and Eliza Pauley Childress.
Her survivors include one brother and his wife, Dale and Carley Jo Griffith Means of Severna Park, Maryland; a nephew and his wife, Merlin and Sherri Foraker Means of Severna Park; a grand nephew, Nicholas Means of Severna Park; and a grand niece, Bremen Means of Severna Park.
She is also survived by many true and trusted friends who appreciated her talent, integrity, and honesty. Without listing any names, the family would like to thank them for their care and help.
Graveside services were conducted at the Means Family Cemetery on April 14, 2008, with Pastor Frank Chapman of Alum Creek Independent Baptist Church officiating.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Granite Baptist Church, Oakwood Road, Glen Burnie, Maryland. Please specify to be applied to the Vera Means Christian College Scholarship Fund.
Curry Funeral Home Alum Creek assisted the family with making arrangements.