02/09/2026
✨Sharing a piece of my world- my heart and my family. A special farewell I wrote to my aunt, whose life reflected God's love so beautifully and whom I am proud to call mine. 💛
Today, we gently lay my Aunt Janice to rest, grateful as we celebrate a life well lived — one rooted in love for the Lord and for her family.
My Aunt Janice was a true gem-and the old cliché is absolutely right: they don't make them like her anymore. I never once saw her without being dressed to impress, always wearing a lovely shade of lipstick perfectly matched to her outfit. Her heart overflowed with love for her family, and she was forever lending a helping hand to us or to her neighbors.
Some of my favorite memories are sitting at her small kitchen table, listening to her stories about growing up on the farm with her brothers and sisters. She came from a family of nine and always said there was never a dull moment-there was always something to do, and the house was always full of love.
She taught me how to make her famous strawberry pie. After our pies were finished, we would step outside into her big yard filled with colorful flowers and tall Carolina pine trees. We'd sit in the shade and talk about life - conversations filled with golden nuggets of wisdom that will stay with me forever and be passed down. Three-legged Homer 🐾 was always right by her side.
I never heard Aunt Janice say a negative word about anyone. She never joined in gossip — she would listen quietly, but never speak-and she never uttered an ugly word, not even a small cuss word like "damn it." Her kindness and grace were unwavering.
Toward the end, I would pray before entering her home, afraid she might forget my name or not recognize me. Each time, my heart would sink as I walked around the corner into the den and saw her sitting in her recliner. Then she would smile big and proudly introduce me to her caretaker: "This is my favorite niece, Michelle— my brother's daughter." Every visit, I placed a bouquet of fresh flowers beside her recliner, because I knew flowers made her happy, and I wanted her to have something beautiful to look at during the long days of being housebound.
Aunt Janice, you made this world a brighter place for everyone who knew you. You were my confidant, my safe space, and my best friend. I am so grateful and blessed to call you my Aunt Janice. I will miss you terribly, but I know you are smiling big and rejoicing with the Lord —together again with your mama, daddy, brothers (except Uncle Charlie), sisters, and your best friend and love of your life, Uncle Sherroll.
View Janice Blackman Keen's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.
