Janice Phelps Horner

Janice Phelps Horner, 92, passed away peacefully at home in Alexandria, Virginia on February 7, 2021, after several health challenges. Jan was a most beloved wife, mother, grandmother, matriarch, humanitarian, and champion for those in need. Her family and friends celebrate the infinite love and compassion she shared through her work and throughout her life.

Born to parents William Phelps and Helen Newell Phelps in Richmond, VA, Jan attended John Marshall High School in Richmond, married in 1947 and resided for a short period in Petersburg and, for several decades, in Alexandria, Virginia. After focusing on raising four children, she started taking college courses in her forties, immersing herself in every psychology, spirituality, art, and American history class she could find. She was an avid reader, runner, tennis jock, theater lover, traveler and piano player.

She had several careers at a variety of organizations, including George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, and the Charles E. Smith Company, Inc., In the late 1970s, she merged her passions for psychology, spirituality and service and became certified as a volunteer lay chaplain in the Virginia hospital system. After retirement from the Charles E. Smith Company, Jan enjoyed a successful real estate career for several years with Long & Foster, Inc., in Alexandria.

She broke ground as the first female lay chaplain for INOVA’s Fairfax, VA, hospital system, and was the first hospital lay chaplain to introduce AIDS awareness and training in Virginia hospitals in 1985 when AIDS sufferers - and their families - were treated like pariahs in the hospital system, and not even the pastoral services arm of the hospital had awareness, training, or resources. On numerous occasions, former hospital patients would recognize her and thank her for making a difference to them during a rough time.

Jan contributed so much to the communities where she lived: as a provider of meals to homebound people; as a lay chaplain for 34 years in Inova Fairfax and Alexandria hospitals and later at Bon Secours – Southside Medical Center in Petersburg, VA; as an active long-time board member of the Belle View Condominium Association and a neighborhood watch leader; and as an active participant in the churches where she belonged, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill in Alexandria and First Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virginia, where in her later years with her much beloved husband Jim, she was both a parishioner and choir member.

Jan was an exemplary mother, grandmother, wife, friend, neighbor, and community leader who left an indelible impression on all who knew and loved her. While she enjoyed many interests and traveled the world, she was happiest connecting with people and being with those she loved. Despite health setbacks in recent years, she retained her grace, wit, kindness and gratitude to the end. She loved her family and friends, who mourn her loss but celebrate an extraordinary life well lived.

She leaves behind her devoted children Elizabeth, Bruce, Beau (Judi) and Dave; grandchildren Amy, Matthew, Kaya and Katie; great grandchildren Adrian, Cameron and Ava; and close family and friends. She was preceded in death by husbands James H. Horner and Arthur L. (Pete) Singleton, and sisters Pat, Cindy and Marcie.

The family is grateful for the loving care Jan received in the last several years at her residence at Hermitage Northern Virginia.

A private graveside funeral service at Monticello Memory Gardens in Charlottesville, Virginia, will be held at a later date. The Reverend Robert Dawson will officiate.