Birth Date: 09/15/1932
Deceased Date: 04/03/2018
Janyce Winders Oldham left this earth peacefully, with dignity, and surrounded by her family, to be with her Heavenly Father on April 3rd.
Jan was born on September 15, 1932 in Wayne County to the late Maye Wilkinson Winders Talton and Ralph Winders. When Jan was three years old, her father died and her mother later married Roy Talton who helped raise her and spoiled her as his own. Jan grew up in Kenly alongside her Wilkinson aunts, uncles and cousins whom she deeply loved and held close throughout her life.
Jan graduated from Kenly High School in 1950 as valedictorian of her class. She attended St. Mary’s College and then the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned her undergraduate degree in English. While at UNC, Jan was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and became a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. Jan became an extraordinary English and Composition teacher who taught seniors at Princeton High School for eleven years. While teaching school and raising her children, Jan earned her Master’s Degree at East Carolina University, driving to Greenville several nights per week. She went on to become the librarian at North Johnston High School where she remained for twelve years. Jan inspired and positively impacted the lives of many young students during her years in public education, some of whom would become educators and authors themselves.
Jan was a member of Kenly United Methodist Church where she played piano and organ for several years. She truly enjoyed the company of her many friends while shopping or playing bridge and especially looked forward to her daily walks with life-long friends Jean and Peggy. One longtime friend said she was “like a breath of fresh air no matter when or where you saw her; a true southern lady.” Jan always looked forward to spending time at her home in Atlantic Beach where walking on the beach and collecting shells were favorite pastimes. Many precious memories were made at “Grandma’s place at the beach.” Jan also loved dancing to beach music, working in her yard, and a good game of rummy. But most of all, she treasured time with her family, often cooking for them and making her famous chocolate cake as requested for their birthdays. Jan never missed an opportunity to talk about her children and grandchildren. She was an amazing example of class, style, determination, perseverance, and unconditional love for her family, friends and those around her.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7th at 11:00am at Kenly Methodist Church with Rev. Paul Dunham and Rev. Rufus Butner officiating. Burial will follow the service at Kenly Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 6th in the chapel of Kenly Funeral Service from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Jan is survived by her daughter, Cindy Oldham Strickland of Kenly; her son, Dr. Jimmy Oldham and wife Donna of Smithfield; grandchildren, Stacy Holloman, Ben Strickland, Matthew Oldham, Laura Oldham, Spencer Braswell and Hillary Braswell; great-grandchild, Caden Holloman; close extended family members, Cad Wilkinson and wife Karen, Janet Wilkinson, and Kathie Wilkinson, all of Kenly.
Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Kenly United Methodist Church, 201 E. Second St., Kenly NC 27542 or to SECU Hospice House, PO Box 1376, Smithfield NC 27577 with checks payable to Johnston Health Foundation.Janyce Winders Oldham left this earth peacefully, with dignity, and surrounded by her family, to be with her Heavenly Father on April 3rd.
Jan was born on September 15, 1932 in Wayne County to the late Maye Wilkinson Winders Talton and Ralph Winders. When Jan was three years old, her father died and her mother later married Roy Talton who helped raise her and spoiled her as his own. Jan grew up in Kenly alongside her Wilkinson aunts, uncles and cousins whom she deeply loved and held close throughout her life.
Jan graduated from Kenly High School in 1950 as valedictorian of her class. She attended St. Mary’s College and then the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned her undergraduate degree in English. While at UNC, Jan was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and became a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. Jan became an extraordinary English and Composition teacher who taught seniors at Princeton High School for eleven years. While teaching school and raising her children, Jan earned her Master’s Degree at East Carolina University, driving to Greenville several nights per week. She went on to become the librarian at North Johnston High School where she remained for twelve years. Jan inspired and positively impacted the lives of many young students during her years in public education, some of whom would become educators and authors themselves.
Jan was a member of Kenly United Methodist Church where she played piano and organ for several years. She truly enjoyed the company of her many friends while shopping or playing bridge and especially looked forward to her daily walks with life-long friends Jean and Peggy. One longtime friend said she was “like a breath of fresh air no matter when or where you saw her; a true southern lady.” Jan always looked forward to spending time at her home in Atlantic Beach where walking on the beach and collecting shells were favorite pastimes. Many precious memories were made at “Grandma’s place at the beach.” Jan also loved dancing to beach music, working in her yard, and a good game of rummy. But most of all, she treasured time with her family, often cooking for them and making her famous chocolate cake as requested for their birthdays. Jan never missed an opportunity to talk about her children and grandchildren. She was an amazing example of class, style, determination, perseverance, and unconditional love for her family, friends and those around her.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7th at 11:00am at Kenly Methodist Church with Rev. Paul Dunham and Rev. Rufus Butner officiating. Burial will follow the service at Kenly Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 6th in the chapel of Kenly Funeral Service from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Jan is survived by her daughter, Cindy Oldham Strickland of Kenly; her son, Dr. Jimmy Oldham and wife Donna of Smithfield; grandchildren, Stacy Holloman, Ben Strickland, Matthew Oldham, Laura Oldham, Spencer Braswell and Hillary Braswell; great-grandchild, Caden Holloman; close extended family members, Cad Wilkinson and wife Karen, Janet Wilkinson, and Kathie Wilkinson, all of Kenly.
Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Kenly United Methodist Church, 201 E. Second St., Kenly NC 27542 or to SECU Hospice House, PO Box 1376, Smithfield NC 27577 with checks payable to Johnston Health Foundation.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
