Janice Grant Strode, who was a BJ Circulation secretary for 25 years, passed away Tuesday, April 18.



Janice was born in Mexico, a town in Missouri, but the family moved to Akron when she was 2 years old.

I don’t know the years that Janice worked at Ol’ Blue Walls but she’s in the 1981 employee directory that Advertising Makeup retiree Mike Williams provided, the 1978 and 1979 BJ Christmas promos and in the 1979 and 1998 employee directories that Ken Krause has.

BJ Advertising Art retiree Mike Williams remembers:

“Jan also typed and did the Girl Friday thing in the Ad Art department in 1976? and a few years after that.

“She was kind and welcoming to me when I spelled Gary Pembrook there for two years.

“Here's a Creative Services Christmas message from the Nov-Dec 1977 Tower Topics issue. She's peeking over my right shoulder.”

A year later, Mike added:

“In the next year's Christmas message (December 1978) she got the best seat of the group.”

Janice's cousin, Andale Gross, confirmed that Janice worked in Circulation.
 

Janice’s obituary:

Janice M. Grant Strode

Janice M. Grant Strode, 74, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.

Janice was born in Mexico, Missouri in 1942 to Raymond and Gladys Grant but moved to Akron, Ohio when she was only two years old. Janice retired from the Akron Beacon Journal as a secretary after 25 years of service; she was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to all her family and friends; she will be greatly missed.

Janice was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Grant; mother, Gladys Grant; brother, Clarence Grant; sister, Geraldine Woodson; and nephews, Michael A. Grant and Garland Marshall.

She leaves to celebrate a life well lived: her beloved husband of 51 years, Emmitt Strode Jr.; son, Shawn (Dierdre) Strode; daughter, Samara Strode of Columbus, Ohio; granddaughters, Makayla Strode of Columbus, Ohio, Carmalita and Brianna Bradley; grandsons, Sterling Powell and Excell Bradley; great-grandchildren, Sterling Jr. and JaBraylon Powell; brothers, Donald (Dione) Grant and Milton Grant; sister, Carol (Lonnie) Hubbard; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and close friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Calling hours are from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the service will begin at 12 p.m. at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 442 Bell Street, Akron, OH 44307. Pastor Jack Streeter officiating, Interment at Greenlawn Cemetery, 2580 Romig Road, Akron, OH 44320. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The American Heart Association at 3505 Embassy Pkwy. Suite 100, Akron, OH 44333. Procession will form and condolences may be sent to 896 Valdes Ave., Akron, OH 44320.

Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.