Janet Sullivan Smith was born August 12, 1937 in Tylertown, MS to Thomas Alvin and Edith Sullivan.  She passed away Sunday, July 10, 2022 after bravely facing head and neck cancer for over a year.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at Hartman Jones Funeral Home from 9:00 AM until services at 11:00 AM.  Graveside services will follow in Rushing cemetery in Tylertown.  Rev. Scott Johnson will officiate.

She was a 1955 graduate of Tylertown High School.  She graduated from Gilfoy School of Nursing at MS Baptist Hospital as a Registered Nurse in 1958 when nurses wore white caps, starched dresses, polished shoes and they sharpened needles on a whetstone.  Janet worked as a surgical/recovery room nurse in New London, CN and Pascagoula, MS.  She retired from Walthall County Hospital in Tylertown in 2000 after 25 years of service as an RN Case Manager.

She was a member of Tylertown Baptist Church, church choir, and the ladies ensemble "Joyful Hearts".

Janet Married James W. (Jim) Smith November 1, 1958, and they were happily married for 56 years until his death in 2014.  She was a devoted wife and mother, managing their household flawlessly during her husband's long tours of duty at sea with his Navy career.  Following his retirement, they moved back to Tylertown in 1972.

She enjoyed playing word games on her IPAD, researching her family genealogy, and hand stitching beautiful quilts.  She was a wonderful baker.  Both her caramel cake and her buttermilk pound cake could not rivaled on this Earth.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents Thomas Alvin and Edith Sullivan, her husband James W. (Jim) Smith, sister Shirley (died age 5), brother Jerry Sullivan (Ellen Sullivan), brothers-in-law Charles May, Virgil Brawley, and a great granddaughter Allie Shepherd.

She is survived by daughter Julie Shepherd (Mark), grandsons J.T. (Lindsay), Jacob (Daley), Clay (Christy), great grandson Ethan, great granddaughter Stella, sisters Ellen May, Anne Brawley (Steve Chester), four nieces Lisa May, Renee Whiteside (Tom), Lee Ellen McDonald (John), Lynn Barnes (Paul), great niece Jessi Hutson (Josh), and longtime friend John Martin.

She was a loving, generous, and encouraging lady.  She was a joyful presence with her many colorful handmade quilts, sparkling blue collectible glassware, and beautiful hair.  She loved her Lord, her family, and filled her home with warmth and kindness for everyone.  She will be missed by all of us that loved her.

Pallbearers will be:  J.T. Shepherd, Jacob Shepherd, Clay Shepherd, Steven Melton, Josh Hutson, and Jerry Rushing.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Martin, Paul Barnes and James Stinson.

The family would like to thank St. Luke Hospice for providing comfort when it was needed and Hartman-Jones Funeral Home for handling the arrangements