In Memoriam Janet Anderson-Davis
We are truly sorry to have to report the loss on January 30th , from complications from cancer, of our fellow member and friend Janet Anderson-Davis.
From almost the moment they joined in May 1999, Janet and her late husband Elvin became a force in our club and were soon known to many members because of their presence at so many events and activities, their volunteering together to manage our regalia, the quizzes they devised for meetings and all the fun they brought with them when they arrived in, – first their white MGB – and later the famous all red 1980 with matching trailer.
Janet was born in Detroit in July 1954, gained her BA in political science at Michigan State and her law degree at the University of Michigan. She met Elvin in 1980 and they were married in September of 1982. Working first for an insurance company, she later became an attorney for Wayne County and was often featured in local newspapers and TV news for her participation in high profile cases, particularly those involving ballot issues. She even oversaw our own club elections, taking her responsibility very seriously, insisting for example that candidates should show their ID, even though she may have been casually chatting to them as friends moments before!
Elvin died in September 2020 and only a few weeks later, when she was still in deep grief, Janet’s friends and family were shocked to receive an email from her with the subject line, “… And now it’s my turn”, in which she described how after feeling shortness of breath, she visited a doctor, had x–rays and was told that she, a lifetime non-smoker, had stage-4 lung cancer. Many are described as having “battled” cancer, but with Janet, it was literally the case. After doctors told her early-on that she should consider palliative care, her answer was that they were not writing her off that easily and told them to think again, sought second opinions and treatment options, and eventually went to a different hospital group.
We remember Janet as a fellow club member, loving wife to Elvin, friend, mother, grandmother, a celebrated attorney, a voracious reader and super smart lady, but did you know she was also a published poet? In her book, Dance of the Warriors, she wasn't shy to dedicate this poem to Elvin.
THE FIRST KISS
The first kiss
gave me that melt-in-your-mouth
sweet sugar daddy flavor
It soothed a soul aching to burst free
My ballerina legs stretched taught
I wanted more
The first kiss made me dig deep
into the sultriness of us
I cooed
And was whole
And just days before her passing, she wrote to family and friends
My mantra for today:
My name is Janet
I’m here to say
I’m a very strong lady
On this blessed day
I will stand and walk
I will do my best
From toil I won’t balk
Give God the rest
Janet is survived by 2 children and 5 grandchildren to whom we send our deepest condolences. A Celebrations of Life of her was held February 4th at which WDMGC members were present and one of us spoke about how much she and Elvin had meant to the club.