A Life Lived: Janice Stanbery’s strong faith remembered by family

Published 8:07 am Wednesday, August 7, 2019

All of us are surrounded by amazing people, but most of them live their lives and never get recognized for any great accomplishment or deed. But that doesn’t make them any less valuable. In fact, there are more ordinary people in this world than any other people.

Janice C. Timbs Stanbery was one of those people. She was among the youngest of 15 children of Claude and Emma Brewer Timbs. Janice grew up in the Keenburg Community within walking distance of the Borderview Christian Church, where she was a long-time member.

According to her son, Larry, Jr., Janice was a quiet and reserved person, who was a Godly mother. “She never strayed from those beliefs, which she learned from her parents and from growing up in church. Her faith had grown from having children of her own and from some rather difficult times in her life,” he shared.

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Janice was a cancer survivor, a member of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Prior to her bout with cancer, she had worked 15 years as a legal secretary in Johnson City. Following cancer treatment, which left her without feeling in one of her hands, Janice was unable to return to her work. However, she remained active, caring for her husband, Larry Stanbery Sr., a disabled veteran, and taking care of the home.

“My mother enjoyed gardening. She grew miniature blueberry bushes, tended her flowers and grew some vegetables, many of which she canned. She was a good cook,” said Larry, Jr., who now lives in Alabama. One of the things he especially remembers his mother making was chow-chow. “She made it from vegetables grown in her garden and canned it,” he said.

Janice also enjoyed crocheting. She had crocheted a number of baby blankets and before her death had just finished one for her first great-grandchild, due to be born in about two months.

“My mother enjoyed her children and grandkids, and was an encourager. She enjoyed doting on them,” Larry, Jr. said. Janice had four grandsons and a granddaughter. In addition to Larry, Jr., Janice and Larry, Sr. were parents of a daughter, Marie, who lives in Chattanooga.

In addition to crocheting, gardening, and keeping house, Janice enjoyed collecting hummingbirds. She also kept hummingbird feeders in the yard and kept them filled with sweet water.

However, the one thing that Larry, Jr. remembers and admired the most about his mother is her strong faith. “For the past few years she hadn’t for various reasons been able to attend church much, but she enjoyed several faith TV programs. Among her favorite TV preachers was Pastor John Hagee. My oldest son described her as ‘an angel in disguise,’ and I think that is very fitting,” he said.

When it comes down to the end, it’s not how much you have in this life, not what you did, but it’s where you put your faith, and how you treated those around you. To Janice Stanbery’s family, she rated tops, and they witnessed firsthand her Godly faith.