Janice J. Reed

Janice J. Reed was born on January 4, 1939, to Reverend and Mrs. V.A. Smith of Adamsville, Tennessee, and she went home to be with the Lord in Hamilton, Ohio, on February 6, 2023, at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness. She was preceded in death by her brother, Ferrell Vincent Smith, her parents, V.A. and Beatrice Smith, her husband, Carl Whitlow, and her son, Mark Vincent Whitlow-Reed. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Fredia and Bruce Bolinger, her daughter-in-law, Diana Reed, and her grandchildren, Alyssa, Marcus, and Jaisa Reed. Janice was born into a family of devoted Christians, and she received the Holy Spirit and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ at eight years old. Janice received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Memphis Lambuth and began teaching soon after graduation at Hardin County High School, her alma mater, in Savannah, Tennessee. Janice served as the head of her department at Hardin County High School and began work on her masters’ degree at Memphis University. She served as secretary for Hardin County Teacher’s Association and secretary for Hardin County Board of Education. While still teaching at Hardin County High School, Janice also began working with Tennessee River Pulp and Paper, teaching their top secretaries. Education was always an important aspect of Janice’s life. She was offered a full scholarship at the University of Arizona for her masters’ degree. She was also offered the directorship of the first vocational school in Hardin County, Tennessee. She completed work on her masters’ degree in Education at Memphis University and Nevada Southern University at Las Vegas. Janice married her high school sweetheart, Carl E. Whitlow, in June 1959. They were blessed with a son, Mark, in April 1964. When Janice was 26, Carl was diagnosed with cancer and passed away, leaving her with a ten-month old son. Janice married Rev. F.R. Reed and served alongside him in ministry while evangelizing, then pastoring in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Baytown, Texas, and Troy, Michigan. She continued her love for education while working in the churches they pastored and served as the Director of Christian Education in Troy, Michigan, for over 30 years, teaching every age group from the nursery through adults. During her years of ministry, Janice spoke at ladies’ and Sunday School conferences across the country and had the privilege of traveling much of the world. Not only did Janice enjoy formal education and Christian education, but she also enjoyed music education. She was a classically trained pianist and was loved by her many piano students at The Calvary Academy during her retirement years. In November 2000, Janice lost her only son, Mark. She moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in August 2002 to remain close to her daughter-in-law, Diana, and her grandchildren, Alyssa and Marcus. Janice was an active member of The Calvary Church in Cincinnati for over 20 years. She assisted Rev. & Mrs. James Burton with the Anchors, the older adults of the church, and enjoyed being involved in the church wherever she could. She enjoyed her church work, oil painting, playing the piano and teaching piano lessons, and the many close friends that she had at home in Cincinnati and across the country. A visitation will be held at The Calvary Church in Cincinnati on Saturday May 27, 2023 from 12:00 PM~1:00 PM with memorial service folliwng at 1:00PM. Her burial will be in Crump, Tennessee, following her memorial service. The family wishes to thank those who have shown great kindness and care during Janice’s illness. Final Arrangements are provided by Webster Funeral Home, Fairfield, Ohio, and Shackelford Funeral Directors, Savannah, Tennessee. www.websterfuneralhomes.com