Janet Sherrod Mangum's Obituary
Janet Sherrod Mangum was born on September 30, 1938, and was the first of 3 girls: Janet, Judy, and Marilyn. She passed away peacefully on September 15 just short of her 85th birthday, at NHC Healthcare-Somerville after 19 months of skilled nursing care.
Janet was born in a log cabin in Bells, Tennessee and therefore went decades without a birth certificate. A certificate was eventually acquired after family witness testimonies of her birth were submitted. Her late parents are Norman Wilson Sherrod who had a long career with Ford Motor Company and Evelyn Winchester Sherrod, a homemaker.
Janet graduated from Treadwell High School in 1956 where she met her future husband, George E Mangum, Jr. (divorced). As George headed to the US Air Force, Janet headed to Union University in Jackson, TN. They married and lived 30+ years in Memphis where they raised their 4 children, George Mangum, III, (Sherry), Lisa Farmer (Cliff), Laura Evans (Barry) and Norman Alan Mangum (deceased).
Janet was a very good cook and hostess. She was a bookkeeper for various businesses throughout her career. As a Tupperware dealer with a party already booked, she became ill. So, they did what they had to do. Her husband presented Tupperware that night and he sold an impressive amount.
Janet’s retirement passion was ballroom dancing. Nothing got in the way of her dancing. She tried to dance every single day of the week and there was hardly a man who’d let her sit out even one dance to catch her breath. She loved it and they loved her.
Janet leaves her sister, Marilyn, three of her children and their spouses as well as 3 married granddaughters, 4 great granddaughters and 2 great grandsons. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Judy, her former husband and her youngest son, Norman.
The family invites guests and friends to gather for visitation at 1pm with the service, officiated by Pastor Larry West, beginning at 2pm. Burial near her parents will take place in the Garden of Meditation North of Memorial Park although there will be no graveside service.
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