Janet Jordan
Janet Ann Jordan, 64, of Chattanooga, passed away on April 10, 2022, at home with her family by her side.
Janet Ann was born an identical twin (Jana Lynn) on April 14, 1957, in Badconstatt, Germany to Peggy Ann Griffin Jordan and Major Allen Bernard Jordan. Major Jordan was serving his country at an Army Base in Germany at the time of the twin’s birth. The family, including older brother Leslie Allen, returned to the United States when she was eight months old.
Janet was of the Baptist faith and was an active member of Central Baptist Church in Woodmore. Just as her parents, Allen and Peggy were active in many church activities, Janet participated in the Youth Church Choir, was a member of the GA’s (Girl’s Auxiliary), played on the Church Softball Team and attended many Church Camps at Harrison Bay State Park. Janet was a Brownie, Girl Scout and eventually served as a counselor at the Girl Scout’s Camp Adahi.
Janet attended Woodmore Elementary, Dalewood Middle and Brainerd High School where she graduated in 1975. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1979.
She was very active throughout her school years. She was a Brownie, Girl Scout and eventually served as a counselor at the Girl Scout’s Camp Adahi. At Brainerd High she was Key Club Sweetheart, President of the Brainerd Booster Club, on the Homecoming Court, a member of the Pi Delta Phi Club and was voted Best All Around her Senior Year. She played on the Tennis Team for Coach Janice Wilkins where she received awards such as Best Win Loss Singles, Best Win Loss Doubles and Most Valuable Player her Senior Year.
At UTC, she was an active member of Pi Beta Phi where she served as Pledge Trainer and received multiple awards including Best Active. Her senior year she served as President. In addition to Pi Phi, Janet was a Sigma Chi Little Sister and served on the Panhellenic Council.
After college, Janet worked for the Jewish Community Center where she taught multiple Physical Education classes including Mom’s and Tot’s Fitness, Dance Aerobics and other exercise programs.
In 1984, Janet left JCC and Chattanooga to join her twin sister “Cricket” as recreation specialists at Orange Blossom Gardens in Lady Lake, Florida (now The Villages). Together they developed the program from three activities to over 360 recreational programs a week when they left in 1994. During that time period, Cricket and Janet initiated one of the most well known events in the International Festivals Association at that time. The “Battle of the Sexes”, held every year consisted of over 30 recreational activities in a two-week period where women vs. men in Pink and Blue Shirts. The events varied from Paddleboat races, to Swimming, Golf, Basketball, Tennis, as well as more passive but competitive card games like Cribbage and Poker. The festival also included musical events, parades, fireworks and food challenges. When looking at the sea of pink and blue shirts, it was once labeled “The World’s Largest Baby Shower”. During her last few years at The Villages, Janet managed the pilot program for the community’s new Community Resource Center.
In 1994, Janet decided to move to California to spend more time with her brother, actor Leslie Jordan. She joined Marriott Hotels where she worked in Food and Beverage, eventually working her way into managerial positions at various Marriott’s including the Warner Center Marriott in the Valley and the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point, California. During her years with Marriott Hotels, Janet received numerous awards including Manager of the Quarter several times.
Janet moved back to her hometown, Chattanooga, in 2011 to be closer to her mother, Peggy Jordan. She wanted to continue her employment with Marriott and worked with Marriott Courtyard Hotels.
Janet had many sports interests including but not limited to running 10k road races and multiple marathons. She became an avid runner and could be seen running all around Chattanooga daily. She also enjoyed swimming and as a child, she was on both the Cumberland Youth Foundation and Shepherd Hills Swim teams. She played softball in the Cumberland Youth Foundation leagues and eventually played short stop for the Central Baptist Church team for several years.
Janet loved music and has an extensive collection of 45 Records, Albums, Cassettes, and CD’s. From good old Southern Hymns to Country to Oldies, there was never a time when her house was silent as she listened to and sang to her favorite songs. She was also a huge football fan where she was a Loyal Fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, however, she was an avid fan of the Tennessee Titans and absolutely loved her favorite player, “King” Derrick Henry.
Janet is preceded in death by her father, Major Allen Bernard Jordan; Paternal Grandparents, Aldene Davis Jordan and Mack Neilly Jordan, Sr., and Maternal Grandparents, Mary Lucille Johnson Griffin and Homer Howard Griffin.
Survivors include her mother, Peggy Ann Griffin Jordan; brother, Leslie Allen Jordan; twin sister, Jana Lynn “Cricket” Jordan; uncle, Mack Neilly Jordan, Jr. and aunt, Dorothy Griffin Kelley. She is also survived by the apples of her eyes, her godchildren, Ashley Elizabeth Everett, Alexis Caroline Everett and David “Little D” Everett.
The Jordan family would like to thank Janet’s many caregivers beginning with Dr. Yates at Galen Medical Group, the Medium ICU unit at Memorial Hospital, and the exceptional teams at Life Care of Ooltewah, Caris Hospice and Chattanooga Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Janet’s favorite animal charities including McKamey’s Animal Center, Humane Educational Society (HES) of Chattanooga, Chattaneuter, Southern Comfort Maltese Rescue (SCMR), SCRATCH Cat Rescue or any animal rescue of your choice.
A “Celebration of Life” Service for family and friends will be held on Saturday, April 16, at 3 p.m. in the Chapel of Devotion at Hamilton Memorial Gardens at 5351 Tn. 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343.
A “Celebration of Life” Celebration for family and friends will be held on Monday, April 18, from 5–7 p.m. at the Hickory Creek Townhomes Clubhouse located at 6760 Hickory Creek Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421. Due to limited parking, please consider carpooling if possible.
Arrangements are under the care of the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanoogavalleyviewchapel.com