Janice Verdie (Howell) Culpepper

 Mrs. Janice Howell Culpepper, 84, died peacefully at her home Saturday afternoon, February 26, 2022, after a 3½ year courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was born October 3, 1937, in Pierce County, GA. She was the oldest child of six born to Pauline Carter and W. V. (Vernie) Howell of Blackshear. She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Dorrell Culpepper, and two brothers, Dorrell Howell and Charles Howell.

 She graduated from Blackshear High School in 1955, and her dream as a child was going to New York and become an airplane stewardess. Which she did in 1955 and worked at an airline in New York. It was there she met the love of her life, David Culpepper, who was a mechanic with the airline. They married May 30, 1957, in New York, and enjoyed 64 years and 9 months of married life together.

Growing up in the St. John’s Church community. In the 1940’s and 50’s, she along with her siblings and lots of other neighborhood children would walk to St. John’s Church for Sunday. She got a lot of good Biblical training here, and also from her godly mother. She began her spiritual journey early in life and made her public confession when she joined St. John’s Methodist Church in October 1954.

She and David moved to Blackshear, Georgia when she was expecting their first child, Dorrell, who was born in 1960. In 1961, they moved to Tampa, FL where they lived for 12 years. Their daughter, Candy, was born there in 1963. The family moved back to Blackshear in 1973, where they built a house on St. John’s Church Road, where they reside today.

She retired in 2003 with a 30-year career with People’s Bank (now Heritage Bank). After retirement, she enjoyed several years with the Pierce County Library, which suited her immensely because of her love of books and reading. The family moved their membership to St. John’s Methodist Church in 1973, and she served faithfully, serving on committees, teaching Sunday School and worked faithfully in the Ladies Bible Class at St. John’s before she became ill, preparing and typing her own lesson plans.

She was a devoted and loving grandmother to her only granddaughter, Brooke, who was at her grandmother’s house frequently. Her grandparents supported her by attending many school and gymnastic functions. She was the caretaker for her son, who died in 1994 and her mother, who passed in 1994.

Janice was the matriarch of her family, and the love she had for her siblings was quite evident when she made lap quilts for her mother’s grandchildren. Still the love of family was seen once again as she was the “Rock” of many Howell cousins’ reunions. She worked tirelessly getting old family photos of uncles and aunts and other historical information, and also did some genealogy on the Howell’s and also the Carter’s, her mother’s family.

Survivors are her husband of 64 years, David Culpepper, a daughter, Candy (Howard) Cummins, Orange Park, FL; a granddaughter, Brooke (Mickey) Bozek, Guyton, GA; 3 great-granddaughters, Layla, Hazel, and Savannah Bozek of Guyton, GA; a sister, Joyce (Ronnie) Allen, Tampa, FL; 2 brothers, Ray (Rhonda) Howell and Don Howell, both of Blackshear, a sister-in-law, Jeanette Howell of Blackshear and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mrs. Culpepper will be held Saturday morning, March 5, 2022, at 11 o’clock from the St. John’s Methodist Church, with Rev. Joe Thigpen and Rev. Bob Jernigan officiating.

The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6 until 8 o’clock.

Interment will be in the St. John’s Cemetery.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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