Janas Mae Howard

On September 9, 2024, Janas Mae Howard of Kents Store, Virginia, peacefully entered her eternal rest at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

Janas was born on December 8, 1946, to the late Samuel Louis Grooms, Sr. of Washington, D.C. and Rosa Mae Grooms Pendleton of Kents Store. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hobert E. Howard; sons, Kim L. Bradshaw and Lloyd C. Shelton and a daughter, Pamala M. Shelton; brothers, Lloyd Grooms, Samuel Grooms, Jr., Charlie Pendleton and Anthony Pendleton; and sisters, Sarah Watson, Ida Pendleton, and Marsa Grooms.

Janas is survived by two daughters, Tracey “Lisa” Bradshaw and Rebecca S. Askew (Rodney); eight sisters: Rosemary Price (Gilbert), Frances Lewis (Vincent), Sharon Bradshaw (Russell, Jr.), Deborah Banks, Amanda Parrish, Sarah Jackson, Alethia Grooms and Carissa Grooms; and four brothers, Hughson Marshall Grooms, Sherman Pendleton, Nathaniel Pendleton, and Samuel L. Grooms, III.

She is also survived by eighteen grandchildren, thirty-one great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Janas joined Galilee Baptist Church Louisa as a child and was a member all her life. Galilee is where she learned to love God and Ushering. She was educated in the Fluvanna County Public School System and attended S.C. Abrams High School. She received her GED from Virginia Commonwealth University.

After high school, she relocated her family to Richmond, Virginia and became involved with the Richmond Community Action Program and worked to promote the importance of voting. She also taught at Upward Bound preparing at risk teens for college and encouraged them to continue their education.

While in Richmond, she met the love of her life, Hobert Howard, who she affectionately called “Mr. Howard”. His calm nature and her spicy demeanor were a perfect match for a forty-four-year marriage.

Janas worked as a day worker cleaning homes for over 40 years. She enjoyed the relationships she built with the families and considered them as part of her family.

Janas joined the Usher Ministry at Galilee Baptist Church at a young age and discovered her spiritual gift. Prior to becoming ill, she served as the past Galilee Baptist Church Usher Ministry President, Past ICUA of VA, Inc. District #5 President, Past ICUA of VA, Inc. Public Relations Chairman, Past ICUA of VA, Inc. Board of Directors Member, Past National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc. She was also Vice-Chairman Alma Cooper-Hawkins Public Relations Department. Credentials and Nominating Committee Member for the Virginia, Eastern Region, and National Associations.

Janas had a passion for travel and visited forty-eight states. Being part of the Usher’s Association helped her to realize her dream of travel. Even as her health declined and she was no longer able to drive, she was always up for a drive or an adventure.

A visitation will be held at Sheridan Funeral Home, 4626 Cedar Lane Road, Kents Store, Virginia between the hours of 6:00-8:00pm on Friday, September 13th. A funeral service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, September 14th, at Galilee Baptist Church, 3598 3 Notch Rd, Louisa, Virginia.