Janet Paden
Janet Lang Cheves Paden, 88, of Lookout Mountain died on Sunday, 31 July 2016.
Janet was born in Atlanta on Feb. 15, 1928, the daughter of Thomas Xenophon Cheves and Mary Waugh Lang. As a young person, she raised bulldogs and hunted and fished with her father until he was killed on New Year’s Eve 1943 by a drunk driver. When her mother remarried and moved, Janet remained in Atlanta with her uncle, Major Gen. Gilbert X. Cheves, and graduated from North Fulton High School in 1946. She attended Converse College and the University of Georgia. At Georgia, she was a founding chapter member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and established many life long friendships. The owl always held a special place in her bird watching pantheon and was a suitable symbol for her social wisdom on all occasions.
On Dec. 15, 1950, she married Carter N Paden, Jr. and after his graduation from Georgia Tech moved to Lookout Mountain in 1951. They became members of the then tiny Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church. She later travelled to Mississippi with her husband who was on the calling committee that brought the Rev. George Long and his family to Lookout Mountain.
As a homemaker, Janet was a valuable partner to her husband in his role as sales manager of Moccasin Bushing Co., later as President of Southern Centrifugal, SW Centrifugal, and now MetalTek International. She was able to provide the social setting for many meetings and sales.
“Coach” or “Mimi” (as she was affectionately known) was a guiding force in her family and was fiercely devoted to them and to her two nieces, Cheves Waller and Courtney Waller. She was a member of the Woodlawn Garden Club and had a vast knowledge and love of wildflowers. She camped and led her family on many adventures in the Nimrod, a pop up camper—even designing special containers for the supplies. She was an active member of the Junior League and toured with the Lollipop Theatre.
"Coach” also had her competitive side “coaching” her husband and children in all their athletic endeavors. She played tennis until a shoulder injury sidelined her in her 70s, after which time, she concentrated her energies at the Bridge table. She also travelled and flyfished and later joined the Choo Choo Fly girls.
Mimi travelled with Carter, and they provided substantial support to found a Christian seminary in Minsk, Belarus. They made several trips to Minsk in the 1990’s, smuggling Bibles and money, and then visited other European sights on the way home that provided toilet paper and other amenities.
Janet joined her husband in philanthropy and established the Paden-Cheves Scholarship at Georgia Tech (even though she remained a Bulldog fan) and the Paden Scholarship at Covenant College. Janet served on the Ronald McDonald House board in its early years, and she led the Grandview Foundation for several years after Carter’s death helping to support numerous charities in Chattanooga especially in the area of homelessness, addiction, rehabilitation and basic needs. She created an endowment at Hosanna House.
Janet was predeceased by her parents and her beloved older sister, “Maggie” Cheves Waller (Mrs. William Waller), and by her husband of 59 years, Carter N. Paden, Jr. who died in February of 2010.
She is survived by her brother-in-law, Ralph (Dottie) Paden of Lookout Mountain, her four children, Dee (Larry) North of Atlanta, Carter N. “Buck” (Jennifer) Paden III of Signal Mountain, Thomas Cheves (Grace) Paden of Franklin, TN, Rob (Traci) Paden of Ooltewah; grandchildren, Lawrence E. Gill, Mary Lang (Cory) McDade, Carter Paden Gill, Casey North, Shelby North, Joseph Paden, Anna Lang Cheves Paden, Sarah (Lucas) Pipes, Carter N. (Liz) Paden IV, Thomas B. Paden, Grace Lee Paden, Robert (Bethany) Paden, Jr., “Maggie” Paden, Annie Paden, Mia Paden, and her nieces Cheves Waller (Mark) Goble and Courtney Waller.
A memorial service will follow her burial in Forest Hills cemetery at the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, with the Reverend Joe Novenson officiating.
The family wishes to thank caregivers and friends Ruth McNeese, Ellie and Angie Wallin. Special thanks to Dr. Laramore, Dr. Jeong, and Dr. Sutton.
The family will receive friends beginning at 11:30 a.m. Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, Janet asks that contributions be sent to: Community Reconciliation, Inc., Attn: VORP--Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, P. O. Box 88, Chattanooga, TN 37401, or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 4000 Tennessee Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37409, 423 821-755.1
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