Janice Whitt

Janice “Jan” Horsley Whitt, born September 1, 1938 in Hillsville, VA, died after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease and severe dementia on October 14, 2021 at the age of 83.  Raised in Pulaski, VA, Jan graduated from Pulaski High School in 1955 and Lynchburg College with a teaching degree.  Jan went on to earn her master’s degree in learning disabilities from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Va.  Shortly after relocating to Winston-Salem NC in 1977, Jan took a teaching position at Vienna Elementary School, and remained at Vienna until retiring in 2003.  Jan was a dedicated Christian and church goer; an avid reader of fiction; loved talking walks around her neighborhood or along the beach at Sunset Beach NC; enjoyed ballroom dancing with her good friend of many years, Ed Markushewski; treasured family gatherings for birthdays and holidays and the annual family reunion at Claytor Lake VA.  Jan was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Winston-Salem, where her husband Jerry Whitt (deceased), was the Senior Minister.  Later, Jan became a member of Knollwood Baptist Church, where Jan enjoyed working in and organizing the church library.  Jan was a devoted and beloved mother of four children: Kimberly, Bradley, Marc, and Jonathan. Jan loved attending and cheering on all of her children at various athletic and school activities throughout their childhoods.  Jan was preceded in death by parents Ruby and RL Horsley; her older sisters Lillian, Lalah, Dorothy, and Mary; and her loving daughter Kim Whitt McKone, who was taken cruelly by Acute Myeloid Leukemia on October 25, 2020.  Jan is survived by her sons; Bradley Whitt, Marc Whitt, and Jonathan Whitt; and grandchildren Matthew McKone, Dyer Whitt, Clayton Whitt, Steve Whitt, Michael Whitt, Joshua Whitt, Ella Whitt, Connor Whitt, and John Alexander Whitt; daughter-in-law’s, a whole lot of nieces, great-nieces, great-nephews, and close friends.  A memorial service in Winston-Salem will be planned at a future date.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kim McKone Endowment Fund, YMCA of Greensboro, 620 Valley Road, Suite 210, Greensboro, NC  27408. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com