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Janet Williamson Childress was born to Pete and Ethel Williamson on June 19, 1930, in the Vernal community of Greene County, Mississippi, at her maternal grandmother’s home which was built by her Great Grandfather John J. Ball. She would live there with her family: grandmother Sara Ball, great aunt Vera Ball and another aunt Lummie Hunt until her parents built a home at Highway 98 and Vernal River Road when she was 12 years old. She began school at Vernal, then attended school at Mclain, then Bexley, and graduated from Lucedale High School. She married Ray L. Childress Sr. on July 31, 1949; they were married 42 years before his passing. She traveled to visit Ray at several locations while he was in the U.S. Army. Upon his return home, they set up housekeeping in the Central community near Ray’s parents where they lived for several years. They then purchased a farm in the north area of the Barton community of George County where they raised their six children. Janet worked for the George County Sheriff’s office, and later at the George County Tax Assessors office; she was also a substitute teacher while attending nursing school. She graduated from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College as a Licensed Practical Nurse and immediately began work on her Registered Nursing degree. She graduated in December 1986 and began work as an RN at George County Hospital on the night shift with her close friend, Regina Gunter. She often talked about how hard nursing school was and how determined she had to be to complete the degree at the age of 56. In fact, she wrote about how hard it was and how her faith in God had kept her going. She later worked for a home health agency prior to her retirement. She loved to travel and made many trips to the Holy Land with her friend Regina and others. She was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church. She and Ray always gave sacrificially to meet the needs of their family, and any friends who fell on hard times; they taught their children to be benevolent also. She was a strong-willed, determined woman who lived life on her terms. She loved her large family and was proud of their accomplishments. She is survived by her six children; three boys and three girls: Ronald (Wanda Gail) Childress, Alan (Ginger) Childress, Ray Childress, Jr., Jan (Jerry) Howell, Vicky (Noel) Smith, Pam (Bobby) Tanner. Also, sixteen grandchildren: Ronald Eugene Childress, Lee Childress, Missy (Edmond) Havard, Michelle (Jason) Mizell, Randy (Sabrina) Childress, Jeffery Childress, Greg (Jamie) Childress, Ray Louis III (Tonya) Childress, Christopher (Mandie) Childress, Richard Childress, Clay Howell, Angie (Joel) Murrah, Joshua Fryfogle, Savanah (Kevin) Pestke, Mark (Veronica) Fallon, and Jeremy Knowles. Her great grandchildren: Nikki (Man). Brittany (Dakota), Juilease (Dillan), Taylor, Laura Gail (Colton), Hannah, Callie, Karley, Shelby, Hannah, Little Randy, Chloe, Chad, Ashton (Donnie), Katlin (Shawn), Jessica, Brady, Tyler (Rebecca), Haley, Everett, Forrest, Dalton, Clayton (Amber), Kyliee, Kinsey, Conner, Noah, Isaac, Seth, Analiese, Gabriella, Eliana, Ryley, Cole, Georgia Kate, Adalyn, and Delaney. Her great-great grandchildren: Marissa, Alex, M’Kenzie, Collin, Bryce, Henleigh, Allie Gail, Carson, Xavier, and Kayden. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ray Childress, Sr., one grandson, Curtis Childress, daughter in law, Sheila Reeves Childress, and her four siblings: infant Trenton Williamson, Jewel Williamson McLeod, Jeanie Williamson Brewer, and E.D Williamson. She passed away on June 27, 2022. The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to Azalea Gardens Nursing Center and Kare in Home Hospice for the wonderful care and love she received. Services will be at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Lucedale: Saturday, July 2, 2022, with visitation from 9:00 to 11:00, and the service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Shady Grove Cemetery on Hwy 26. Bro. Larry Havard and Pastor Bruce McKenzie will officiate. Trinity Funeral Services in McHenry, MS is handling the arrangements. Please remember the entire family in your thoughts and prayers over the coming days.
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