Janie Ruth Phillips Houser, born Oct. 5, 1943, died Nov. 4, 2014 after an almost five-year courageous battle with ovarian cancer.
Janie was born and grew up in Yazoo City, Miss.
She graduated from Yazoo City High School, Hinds Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi, where she majored in business administration.
While there, she met her husband of 48 years, Charles Shaler Houser III. They lived in several cities, including Panama City, where she worked for the Florida Department of Social Services, New Orleans, Chicago and Greenville, S.C., where her children grew up and still reside.
She was a member of the Greenville, S.C. Debutante Club, an avid collector and dealer of antiques and served on many charitable committees while living there.
For the past 17 years, the couple has resided in Magnolia Springs. She was very active at St. Paul’s Episcopal Chapel, was a co-founder of Jesse’s Restaurant and Moore Brothers Village Market, a charter member of Impact 100 of Baldwin County, on the board of Magnolia Springs Community Association, the Magnolia Springs Garden Club, the Lighthouse Women’s Shelter and several other organizations and charities.
Celebrating with her birthday lunch group was one of her favorite activities, as was travel and fellowship with her dearest friends. While living in Chicago, one of her fondest times was celebrating with the Peppertree Fun Club.
For those who were friends with Janie, they were able to witness a true angel — caring, compassionate loving, forgiving and generous. She would welcome anyone to her home at any time.
She woke up each day to worship and serve the Lord. Her priorities were her faith, her family, her friends and service to others.
She was a wonderful entertainer and host, opening her home for numerous events, dinners, fundraisers and charities.
She was predeceased by her parents, Ruth Irene Pierce Phillips and Clifton Mitchell Phillips of Yazoo City, Miss.
Janie’s Christian faith in the Lord was evident in her devotion to her husband, Charles Shaler Houser III; and to her three children, Shaler (Nicole), Charles (Melissa) and Jennifer (Mark) Kramer. She is also survived by two sisters, Louise (Marvin) Day of Fort Worth, Texas and Virginia (French) Bell of Peachtree City, Ga.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved like her own children.
Her grandchildren, who lovingly referred to her as “J.J.,” all live in Greenville, S.C. They were the light of her life. They are Keaton Freeman, Davis Houser, Sophie Houser, Jackson Houser, Harris Houser, Dodson Kramer and Eliza Jane Kramer.
A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Chapel in Magnolia Springs at 10 a.m. on Nov. 10, 2014. The burial will be held at Pine Rest Memorial Park.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St Paul’s Episcopal Chapel, P.O. Box 2, Magnolia Springs, AL 36555, or Prevent Cancer Foundation at www.preventcancer.org.
Arrangements by Pine Rest Funeral Home, Foley.
