Janie Sue Edwards Waldrip was born in Pontotoc Co. on Jan. 9, 1941 to the late James Rudolph Edwards and Gara Pearl Corder Edwards. After a long fruitful life of serving God, her family, her church and community, Janie realized the promises of her faith and met her Creator on March 23, 2024 from NMMC Hospice Unit. She was 83 years old. Janie was a star graduate of Pontotoc High School in 1958, where she was twice voted as Most Beautiful. Born with a love of learning, Janie entered MSCW graduating with a degree in Elementary Education in only 3 years. Completely devoted to learning, she attended Ole Miss in the summers for extra credit. She began her teaching career in Memphis at the age of 20 as an elementary educator. She met her inseparable life partner, Gary Waldrip, while in Memphis and three months later, on Sept. 3, 1966, they were married at West Heights Baptist Church in Pontotoc. This beautiful partnership endured and thrived for 58 years until her death on Saturday. The Waldrips moved to Tupelo on March 24, 1970 making Tupelo their home for 54 years. While raising her daughters, Janie was a substitute teacher at Pierce St. Schools for many years. Gary and Janie lost their eldest daughter, Wendi, to a rare brain tumor in 1991. After her death, Janie, to help heal her grief, took the opportunity to become affiliated with the relatively new NMMC Wellness Center as their Membership Coordinator. She held this job for 22 ½ years until retiring age 72, a wonderful community contribution to promoting healthy living and purposed filled lives. Janie met and befriended literally thousands of area citizens in this capacity and became an endeared friend to them. Janie had a sterling personality, a vibrant smile and a kind word for everyone. A solid encourager, she never met a stranger and was at her best when surrounded by family and friends. The Waldrips were active members of Harrisburg Baptist Church where Janie taught Sunday school, worked in the nursery and was a loyal Vacation Bible School leader.
A service celebrating Janie’s life will be held at 3:30 PM Saturday, March 30, 2024 in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo. Bro. David Langerfeld and Bro. David Smith will officiate. Private burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park. Visitation on Saturday, 3/30/24, will begin at Noon and continue until the service begins-all at the funeral home. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Live-streaming, and will be archived thereafter.
Janie is survived by her husband of 58 years, Gary Waldrip of Tupelo; her daughter, Suzanne Waldrip Simpson and husband, Alex of Brentwood, TN; three special grandchildren, Owen, Lyla and Neely Simpson, all of Brentwood; a sister, Martha Edwards Classon of Louisville, KY; her niece, Felicia Farmer Hester (Joe) and her nephew, Kevin Farmer and their families all of Louisville, KY. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph and Gara Pearl Edwards, and her beloved daughter, Wendi Waldrip, who died March 25, 1991.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38105.
