Jan T. Jefferson, 85, was born on Sunday, Sept. 5, 1926 in Gary, Indiana, to the Late John and Ruby (Frederick) Taylor. In 1927, the family moved to Akron, Ohio, where Jan and her siblings, Harold and Evelyn, attended school. After graduating from East High School in 1943, Jan attended the University of Akron for two years where she took secretarial courses. She received an associate degree in business from Lansing Community College in 1987. She began her career as a secretary and later became an administrative assistant in both public and private employment. Jan was not afraid of change and has worked in Washington, D.C., New York City, Boston and Lansing. One of the highlights of her career was the year of 1957-1958 where she lived and worked in Thailand for the International Cooperation Administration, a short-lived entity within the State Department. Her church had been studying Southeast Asia and this was a place she wanted to explore. It also gave her the opportunity to travel to Japan. From 1964 through 1979 she worked as a secretary for the Alfred P. Sloan Fellows Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There she met several future world leaders including former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. In 1966 she married Verdel Jefferson in Massachusetts where he was employed as a police officer. In 1978 they moved to Welaka, Florida where Jan worked as a secretary to the Coordinating Council of the St. Johns River Community College District. In 2002, her beloved husband Verdel Jefferson, preceded her in death. Jan was devoted to her family and her church. When her mother became ill, she relocated to Lansing, Mich., to help take care of her. There was worked for a state senator. She was an active member of Welaka United Methodist church where she served as a lay leader. She was an active member of this community where she was president of the Welaka Historical Preservation Board, president of the United Methodist Women and worked as a hospital volunteer. She passed away Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011 and is survived by her nephew, Jon Taylor of New Jersey; nieces: Cynthia Heard of Michigan and Janice Taylor of New York; numerous grandnieces and nephews, other relatives and friends who will miss her dearly.
Memorial service will be 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 9 at the Welaka United Methodist Church with Rev. Gary Isner as officiant.
Simplicity Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Watts Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Inc., San Mateo, Florida.
Print Obituary & Condolences
Jan was a wonderful woman and was married to one of my dad’s friends, Uncle Verdell. She will be missed greatly.
Several months ago dad and I tried locating her in Welaka but were unsuccessful.
Know that my family will keep yours in our prayers.
Dear Aunt Teen, Thank you for being a wonderful great aunt to me. Thank you for taking care of grandmother when she came to florida. We will miss you but we are happy that you are not suffering. We feel comfort in knowing that to be abscent from the body is to be present with the lord. We love you Rest in Peace.
During my 6 years as Town Clerk of Welaka I became close with Jan and I would like to say what a truly wonderful person she was. Always a kind word for everyone and she truly made the world a better place because she was here. She never failed to give me a hug and tell me how she appreciated my efforts. Jan will be missed and I am sure she is in heaven with the other angels. She was one in a million. Rest in peace, Jan.
Jan was a member of our periodontal office we saw her every three months for years she was a joy to our practice and always made us feel so peaceful..She was an amazing lady, never a complaint even when she felt bad. We loved you Jan rest in the arms of Jesus. We will miss that wonderful smile and that light in your eyes. Dr Stephen Strout, Jaymie, Samantha, Linda and the entire staff of Advanced Periodontics
“Lady J” was a remarkable woman! She was smart and always spoke positively about others. I shall always remember that she loved to read, to shop, and to travel. Our road trips included the following places:
1. Valdosta, Georgia, to shop at Lake Park Factory Stores
2. Altoona, Florida, to visit two of Jan’s church friends at an assisted living facility
3. St. Augustine, Florida, to shop at outlet center for Christmas gifts
4. Orlando, Florida, to take Jan’s sister who was visiting her to AKA Boulé at convention center
Another fond memory was having lunch at Jan’s home. Because it was so hot during the summer, she believed that it was best not to cook on the stove. So most of the time, we ate healthy salads that one would eat at the finest of restaurants. Sometimes she would serve food using decorative paper cups, napkins, and plates from Nordstrom’s Department store. Oh, Lady J had great taste! I will miss her dearly.