Janice Jennings DeMent

Janice Jennings DeMent passed away at the age of 89 on July 9, 2016 in the Butterfly Wing of the Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Janice was born on January 1, 1927 in Dixie, LA, a small village that once existed on Scenic Hwy across from the Standard Oil (now Exxon) main gate. She was the only child of John and Mattie Jennings and grew up in the Istrouma and Monte Sano neighborhoods of North Baton Rouge. She graduated from Istrouma High School in 1944 and then attended Spencer Draughon Business College. Upon her graduation she went to work for Standard Oil Company of New Jersey in the payroll department. She continued in this work until she married the love of her life, Leon DeMent, when he returned from the Central Pacific Theater of Operations at the end of World War II. They were married on December 15, 1945 and spent sixty-two wonderful years together until Leon's death in September 2007. Janice was an active member of Monte Sano Baptist Church for decades where she taught Sunday school, worked with the Women's Missionary Union (WMU) and was director of the Young Women's Association (YWA). After moving to the Sherwood Forest area she and Leon joined Florida Boulevard Baptist Church where she served as a teacher in the Four Year Olds Sunday School. In her later years she was an active member of Broadmoor Baptist Church until ill health limited her attendance. For the last two years of her life Janice enjoyed being a resident of The Haven at Windermere where she made many new friends and enjoyed their many activities, especially the afternoon domino games. Janice is survived by two sons, Dr. Leon N. DeMent, Jr. and wife Sylvia Lane DeMent, of Baton Rouge, and Lt. Col. John David DeMent (USAF, ret.) and wife Linda Welsh DeMent, of Sumter, SC; four grandchildren. Dr. Karen DeMent Youmans and husband Fr. Tim Sean Youmans, the Rev. Darren Jennings DeMent and wife Joannah Johnsey DeMent, Ashley DeMent Dodson and husband Greg Dodson, and Kyle David DeMent and wife Jamie Stake DeMent; and six great-grandchildren, Noah Youmans, Virginia DeMent, Elias DeMent, Brooke Dodson, Andrew Dodson, and Elijah DeMent. Visiting will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 1100 Florida Blvd., on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, from 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 in the chapel from 10:00 a.m. until religious service at 11:00 a.m. conducted by Dr. Terry Ellis followed by interment in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Pallbearers will be, Darren DeMent, Kyle DeMent, Tim Sean Youmans, Noah Youmans, Gene Shelburne, Marvin Newman, Jay Newman, Mike Raborn. Memorial donations may be made in Janice's name to The Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A., Baton Rouge, LA 70810.