Janet Grace (Hines) Johnson was born on October 30th, 1948 to the late Frederick Shaw Hines, Sr. and Bertha Elizabeth Hines, in Louisville, Ky. Two days shy of her 71st birthday, Janet passed away on October 28th, 2019, surrounded by her loving family at the Rolling Hills Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in New Albany, IN. After a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease, God saw best that it was time for Janet to rest in eternal peace. Janet was a life-long member of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ where she served in several ministries during her early adult life.
Janet graduated from Shawnee High School in 1967. Upon graduating, she matriculated to Western Kentucky University, in Bowling Green, KY, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, in 1972. In 1974, Janet earned a Masters of Arts degree in Guidance and Counseling. Several years later, Janet once again enrolled in Post-Graduate studies at WKU. Teaching daily in the classroom and attending college, at night, proved fruitful. In 1976 she received a Rank I Certification in School Administration and Supervision and a job promotion. In total, Janet was an asset by all standards of the teaching profession, with the Jefferson County Public Schools System, and retired after 30 years of dedicated service. Janet will be remembered for her compassion and love for all children and their educational and social welfare.
Janet Grace Johnson was a member of several civic, social, service and athletic organizations such as, the Newburg Tennis Association, The Louisville Tennis Club and the Hermosuras Social Club. Janet was an avid tennis player, pool shark and Bid-Whist Champion. She was a competitor that never turned down a challenge or a “good meal”. She loved to eat and sing (imagining she was a member of the Supremes).
In 1972, while at WKU, she became a member of the Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.. She lived her life well and to the fullest; upholding the ideals of the Sorority.
Janet Grace embraced her Native American heritage, with great pride and humility. She included the Wampanoag Indian culture in her daily walk of life, as well as in her daughter and grandson. Janet’s strong family roots were planted deep; cultivating a vine, producing a rich history and legacy that will continue to grow and strive.
In 1973 Janet married and from this union bore her one and only child, Janell Payne. In 1986 and thru a mutual friend, Janet met and later married Michael Johnson. The two shared a love for fishing, boating and tennis and would often travel to Cape Cod, for family vacations. It was during this union that Janet and Mike brought into their home, Janet’s niece, Shilah Marie Faulkner, to raise along with her daughter.
Janet Johnson was preceded in death by her parents, Fredrick Shaw Hines, Sr. and Bertha Elizabeth Hines; one sister, Brenda Richerson.
She is survived by her loving husband of 30 years, Mike Johnson; a daughter, Dr. Janell M. Payne and grandson, Joshua Anderson (Atlanta, GA); brother, Frederick Shaw Hines, Jr. (Chesterfield, VA); sister, Marjorie Seagraves (Mashpee, MA); step-children, Michael Smithers, Sr., and Lori Haun (Fred) all of Louisville; step-grandchildren, Isabella Hackley, James Haun, Miesha Coulter and Michael Smithers, Jr.; nephew, Coleman Brown (Bowie, MD); nieces, Heidi DeBarros (Mashpee, MA); Janet Gilkey; Lisa Faulkner; Alice Miah (Jarrett), all of Louisville; and a host of loving relatives and friends.
