Janice "Mama Jan" Lance

Janice Claire Daniel Lance “Mama Jan", 81, of Senatobia, MS, passed away November 18, 2019 at her residence. Mama Jan was a well-known business owner in our community. She owned and operated Happy Days Learning Center and before that she was the director of Wee Care. Mama Jan had a love for people, but a love for children like no other. For over three decades, Mama Jan raised, loved and nurtured the children of Senatobia and the surrounding communities. Mama Jan can be described as kind, patient, generous, faithful and truly one in a million. For as much as she loved her kids, so much can be said about the lives she touched in the many parents and employees from the daycare. She had a heart for single mothers and working parents. She was a pillar of the community and most people in the town of Senatobia have some type of memory of Mama Jan. We will never know this side of heaven how many lives she touched. We are all better for having known her.

Janice was born in Senatobia on January 29, 1938. Her family moved to Philip, MS after the death of her father. She graduated from West Tallahatchie High School in 1955 and shortly after graduation, married her high school sweetheart, Bobby Lance. They moved to Hattiesburg, MS where he played football at the University of Southern Mississippi. This is where they started their family.

Janice was a homemaker with four children. Eventually, she moved back to Senatobia with her children and started her career in childcare. She was known as Ms. Janice until she became a grandmother and from then on out was affectionately called Mama Jan to all who knew her.

Mama Jan was an active member of First Baptist Church Senatobia. She exemplified what a true follower and servant of Christ should be. Her Christian legacy will continue for years to come.

Her greatest treasure was her family and she never missed an opportunity to tell us how much she loved us. One of her many journal entries stated, “I hope we can just forget the world’s problems, our problems and just enjoy each other. Our time here is short and we need to savor every minute; this time with our family will never come again”.

She was preceded in death by her parents, WP. and Lula Belle Daniel and brother, Paul Daniel. She is survived by her daughters, Debra Ellis (Bill) and Kerry Flowers (Bill); sons, Butch Lance (Nancy) and Jim Lance; sister Rita Joy Daniel Wolfe; grandchildren, Kristen Prince, Kyle Ellis, Stacy Campbell, Parks Flowers, Molly Claire Flowers, Lacey Dees, Levi Lance, Daniel Lance, Mary Whitehurst, Noah Lance and Joe B. Lance; 17 great-grandchildren; nieces, Joy Gordon and Luanne Rich, and nephew Ryan Wolfe.

Mama Jan was the matriarch of our family, our source of strength, our rock. She was loved and adored by all who knew her. We rest in the promise that she is now with our Lord and Savior.

Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church Senatobia or to the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.

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