Roll Call Tribute

Janice Leora Johnson Westmoreland
April 22, 1947 - May 15, 2020 age 73

Janice Leora Johnson Westmoreland was welcomed into Heaven on May 15th 2020, surrounded by all her children, grandchildren and her great grand child.

Janice was the third child born to Jefferson Davis Johnson and Thelma Mildred Johnson in Houston, TX.
Survived by siblings Jefferson Wilson Johnson & Mildred Jane Johnson Vestal and three daughters Jayna Kinnamon, Jara Downs and Jae Carpenter; three sons in law Steve Kinnamon, Curtis Downs, and John Carpenter and eight grandchildren Makenna Sheid (and Keaton - grandson in-law), Madison Kinnamon, Colton Kinnamon, Stewart Kinnamon, Kaden Downs, Kinsley Downs, Kai Carpenter and Cash Carpenter; and one great grandchild Emerson Sheid.
Preceded in death by her husband John Sherrill Westmoreland Jr and parents Jefferson Davis Johnson and Thelma Mildred Johnson.

Janice grew up in the Houston Texas Heights district with her siblings Jeff and Jane. Tragedy struck with the sudden unexpected passing of her mother when Janice was only 10 years old. Her father bravely raised them as a single father. In the 1950's that was extremely difficult to do. Janice met the love of her life, John Sherrill Westmoreland Jr, in the Houston First Church of the Nazarene children's program. John became her brother's best friend and when Janice was only 16 "Johnny" became her one and only boyfriend. At 19 she married him and he whisked her away for them to attend Texas A&M University together. Due to the fact that she was married to a Texas A&M student, Janice was allowed to attend Texas A&M as one of the first female students. She was extremely proud of this! Gig em’ and Whoooop! Upon Johnny's graduation from the Texas A&M School of Architecture, they moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and Janice worked for Architects Collaborative among architects such as Walter Gropius. Janice loved telling the story of being a Southern Belle answering the phones in their Boston office. Then they moved to Silver Springs Maryland and had their first daughter Jayna. Shortly after John enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War. At that time, Janice & Jayna moved back to Houston to live with her in-laws. Once John finished boot camp, Janice and John moved to Dallas in 1970, and Janice finished college at the University of Texas in Arlington with a degree in Architecture with Interior Design. They also joined Dallas First Church of the Nazarene where they were loyal members for 50 years, serving their church faithfully in many capacities such as church board, women's ministry, children's ministry & quizzing, youth, Sunday School classes, etc. After moving to Dallas, John and Janice opened their own Architecture firm in Duncanville, TX where John designed the buildings, and Janice worked alongside him on the interiors. During that time Janice’s two daughters Jara and Jae were born. Janice had a long-time career in Interior Design and worked for companies such as the Superconducting Super Collider, Vartec Telecom, and had her own company - InterDesigns where she completed many interior design projects and staging for various clients.

Janice was the type of person who lit up every room she walked into. A fierce believer and strong Christian, she had incredibly high values and morals. She has always been known as the “life of the party”, a great encourager, and a great friend. She rarely worried about the “small stuff” preferring instead to love people as Christ would, lift them up, and build them up in the Lord. She had an incredible knack for making spaces more beautiful and she was a natural at it, not only in decor but also with her sweet spirit! She planned many a party and church function and added her own pizzazz to each occasion. She loved life and lived it to the fullest. She adored her husband and children and was an incredible, fully involved, mother. Janice loved architecture, art, shopping, and traveling - particularly to Maui, HI; she loved to decorate - especially for the holidays, and host parties, and enjoyed collecting heart-shaped rocks and happy face rocks she would find on her travels. More was more to her, and she did all things out of compassion, and love for others. She was high energy, vibrant, kind, an incredible friend to all and SO MUCH FUN!

We miss her SO much!!!