Janice Stewart Hancock

Janice Stewart Hancock, 72, of Nebo, NC passed away on Sunday, September 7, 2014 following an extended illness. Born in Burke County, NC on January 1, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Nally C. Stewart and Eva Kiser Stewart. Along with her husband, Janice had many interests including boating, water skiing, and camping at Lake James. They were avid gourmet cooks and readers. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, crafting, canning and playing bridge. Having no children, Janice embraced her love of children through her teaching. She graduated from Lenoir Rhyne College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She also held a cosmetology degree. She spent thirty years teaching at Glen Alpine and Hillcrest Elementary Schools before retiring in 1995. Janice was a charter member of Dysartsville Fire Department and had recently developed a love of country music.
Janice is survived by her sisters, Kaye Stewart Irvin of Nebo and Brenda Stewart Simmons and her husband, Sidney, of Morganton; sisters-in-law, Sharon Mull of Glen Alpine, NC and Myra Brown and her dear friend, Dr. George Krebs, of Morganton; nieces, Kim Baker and her husband, Scott, and their son, Elliott, of Morganton, Kristy Price and her children, Emma and Cooper, of Morganton; Teresa Shackleford and her husband, Bob, and their son, Will, of Randleman, NC; a nephew, Branton Brown of Myrtle Beach, SC; uncles: William, Wayne, and Henry Stewart all of Morganton; and a number of cousins.
In addition to her parents, Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas DeCosta “Tom” Hancock, Jr.; her step-mother, Dessie Melton Stewart; and three brothers-in-law, Sam Irvin, Jr., Dewey Mull, and Richard L. Brown.
The funeral will be held at 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 10, 2014 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center with the Reverends Jerry Gamble and Sid Houk officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Burke United Christian Ministries, 305 B West Union Street, Morganton, NC 28655.