Janette Davis' Obituary
On January 2, 1947, from the beautiful star-studded island of Jamaica, grazing the windy rocky roads of Grants Town District located in the parish of St. Mary, a tiny voice bellowed its first cry that signaled the birth of queen Janette Barriffe Davis, affectionately known as “Jenny”. She was the fifth of nine children born to Wesley and Mildred Barriffe.
Janette grew up in Grants Town District, Saint Mary, Jamaica where she attended Port Maria Primary School. At 11 years old, she accepted Christ and was confirmed at Port Maria Methodist Church. There, she was a member of the Methodist Girl’s League where she learned to crochet, knit and make patch work quilts. Janette also helped her mother, who was a seamstress, make school uniforms and baby clothes, along with any other type of clothing people needed.
At age 19, Janette left home for a job at Chamber of Commerce in Ocho Rios, Saint Ann. While living and working in Ocho Rios she met Almond Davis; they were joined in holy matrimony in April 1967.
Janette’s second Job was at Staniger where she continued working for many years until 1976 when she migrated to the US where she lived in New York for a short while. From there she went to Louisiana to join Almond, residing in Lafayette and Hammond before moving to Houston, Texas.
Janette loved cooking and gardening. She was a devoted Christian and a member of Disciples United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas where she was very involved. She was a mother to every child she encountered and even the mothers of those children would reap her kind rewards in whatever way she could. Janette lived up to the phrase, “it takes a village to grow a child”, as she was a village mother. She would go in the community on Saturdays to invite children to church. On Sunday mornings, she would leave home early picking up and taking the children to church. She was a very strict disciplinarian.
Janette took nursing courses in school. After working in a nursing home and Houston Methodist Hospital, she decided to work as a private duty nursing assistant which she did for over 27 years with the same family until her retirement. Janette was a dedicated worker and took her job very seriously.
After retirement, Janette worked part-time for a short time before she became ill and could no longer work and was home bound.
Janette was a giving and kindhearted person. She cared about her family and friends and could be described as the “queen” of her family. Her favorite time of the year was Thanksgiving when she would prepare her specialty dressing, pecan pie, roasted and smoked turkey that everyone craved.
Janette’s journey came to an end on Wednesday, September 2, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parent’s Wesley and Mildred Barriffe; a niece, seven aunts, and 2 uncles.
Janette leaves to cherish her precious memory, husband, Almond Davis; son, Seprian (Paula) Davis, Sugarland TX; adopted son, Richard (Tanya) Lawrence; two grandchildren, Chrysantha and Cyrano Davis, both of Sugarland TX; two brothers, Harry (Jennifer) Barriffe, Staten Island, NY; Donald “Boysie” Barriffe, Melbourne FL; six sisters, Vedol “Veda” Fraser, Toronto Canada; Effie (Ollie) Stepp, Hudsonville MI; Lucille Barriffe, Missouri City, TX; Annette (Courtney, Snr) Fraser, Humble TX; Verona “Rhona” Barriffe, Saint Mary, Jamaica; Claudette “Sunshine” Barriffe, Saint Catherine, Jamaica; a special Caregiver, Yvonne Edwards; special friends, Michael and Thelma London, and a host of relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the youth scholarship fund at Disciples United Methodist Church in her honor. website address is www.disciplesumchou.org
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
For those not able to attend the service, you can join us online by clicking the link: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/37126
What’s your fondest memory of Janette?
What’s a lesson you learned from Janette?
Share a story where Janette's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Janette you’ll never forget.
How did Janette make you smile?
