Janis Akens
Janis Mitchell Akens, born October 13, 1952, passed peacefully to her eternal home on Monday, July 9, 2018.
Jan was a devout member of the East Brainerd Church of Christ. She loved children and taught in the church’s preschool as well as in the nursery.
She was a lifelong resident of Chattanooga and a graduate of East Ridge High School. Jan attended Tennessee Technological University where she majored in Elementary Education. She was employed by the Tennessee Valley Authority as a graphic designer. Following the birth of her daughter, Jan taught at Boyd Buchanan School as a teaching assistant for many years.
Jan was preceded in death by her parents, John and Freda Mitchell and her brother, John Mitchell.
Survivors include her husband Larry Akens; daughter, Elizabeth (Will) Cooper of Apison; grandsons, Ford and Grey Cooper; brother, Bill (Elise) Mitchell of Signal Mountain and several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
Jan was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother whom will be greatly missed by her family and all those she touched throughout her life.
The family would like to express their appreciation to all her doctors, the staffs of Tennessee Oncology, Memorial Hospital, and Hospice of Chattanooga who were all so kind and supportive during her illness.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 13, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road with Ron Rogers officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at www.memorial.org/make-a-gift or the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org
Visitation will be on Thursday, from 4-7 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road.