Janice Yvonne West

Ms. Janice Yvonne West, 79 of Cleveland, Georgia passed peacefully into the presence of His eternal glory from the presence of those loved ones surrounding her on a sunny afternoon in Gainesville, Georgia on the 25th of March 2022. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ola Mae Turk and Loyd Hubert West, and her brothers, Richard and Terrell.

Survivors include her niece, Valerie (Jamie) Fambrough, nephew, Brian (Corinne) West, four grand nieces and nephews, her sister-in-law, Judy Poss West, many precious cousins, and numerous treasured friends.

Janice was born on April 27, 1942, at Allen Hospital in Houschton, Georgia. As a sort of self-appointed mini matriarch, her childhood is replete with memories of keeping and failing to keep her little brother, Richard, and younger cousins, Darrell and Mike in line. As a family historian she could transport you into the shade of six towering pecan trees in Grandma West’s backyard in Candler Park—grass underfoot—as she and little Ricky chased after the Gainesville Midland, beckoning for the conductor to acknowledge them with a blast from his horn and a wave of recognition as he zoomed off for Athens. As a young adult she graduated from Truett McConnell College where she remained active as an alumna up until her death. Her life’s dream was realized upon her retirement from IBM/Equifax when she bought land in the shadow of Mount Yonah and built her home right down the road from her beloved Truett McConnell. As a family member, she helped coordinate memory-filled gatherings at Vogel State Park where family annually came together to visit and indulge in more food, perhaps most importantly, Doris Farmer’s coconut cake than you could possibly imagine, though Doris never had any coconut cake to take home. As an artist, she painted many beautiful porcelain pieces, sang with Ponce de Leon Baptist Church’s choir, and played piano. As an aunt, she could tame the wildest niece or nephew as she swayed, tiny dance partner in arm, across the green shag carpet in the front room of Lanier Drive to “The Sting” playing on the stereo console or soothe their mightiest tantrums with her renown back scratching powers, as they drooped, half conscious across her lap on the wingback chair. As a caregiver, she spent years of her life caring for and sustaining her mother and father and in her later years, “caretaking” for herself in her own way, on her own terms, living independently until her death.

A funeral is scheduled at Little & Davenport Funeral Home on Saturday, April 2nd: visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the funeral will begin at 3 p.m. in the chapel, and internment will immediately follow at Chestnut Mountain Church. Dr. David Drake will officiate the ceremony. Flowers or donations in Janice’s memory to Truett McConnell University’s Office of Advancement are appreciated.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 is in charge of arrangements.