Janet Lorraine Overton

Janet Lorraine (Woodley) Overton, born November 4, 1948, transitioned on September 9, 2024. She was the fifth of 10 children of Dorothy Etta (Birt) and Lester Ray Woodley, Sr. Born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY, Janet attended Mount Vernon schools, graduated in 1966, and in 1968 married Melvin William Overton, Jr., the love of her life. They’d been married 41 years at the time of Mel’s death in 2009. Janet attended Howard University in Washington, DC, but earned a BA from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase in 1973 and an MFA from Columbia University in 1990.

A lover of books and words, after graduation from SUNY Purchase, Janet was guided into a career in publishing by one of her college literature instructors, Toni Morrison. Janet worked briefly as Ms. Morrison’s secretary at Random House, then moved on to a variety of roles in publishing including writer, editor, and managing editor in other New York publishing houses. She worked in New York for eight years, then, with Mel, moved to the Washington, DC, area in 1981.

Here she worked for the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the World Resources Institute, and finished her career working in the federal government. With the government, she was editor in two Offices of Inspector General—Department of Commerce and NASA—and in the Government Accountability Office. Her work with NAS and World Resources offered chances to travel within the United States and to Canada, Germany, and Kenya. After Mel’s death, she continued to work until retirement in 2012 when opportunities to travel opened. She, with her sister Sharron Woodley, visited Italy, South Africa, Ghana, Cuba, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Panama.

After Mel’s death, Janet found herself drawn to the church where Mel’s funeral had been held, the Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church. Eventually, drawn by the philosophy and principles, she joined the church in 2012. There she involved herself in several community service activities to help disadvantaged children, immigrants, and homeless people. She also was involved in church governance and served a term as the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

On moving to Leisure World, she became involved in the Leisure World Association for African American Culture (LWAAAC). She joined the Community Service Committee and worked on that committee to establish a volunteer relationship with a helping organization, Shepherd’s Table. The committee collected $1,000 to fund field trips for elementary school children whose families could not afford these activities. A year later, she was elected president of LWAAAC serving 10 months before resigning for health reasons. While president she initiated the Membership Survey to solicit members’ wishes and expectations for the organization. Based on survey results, she took responsibility for ensuring the development of a website (lwaaac.com) and initiated dual-purpose monthly meetings (1/4 business meeting, 3/4 information presentation). She instituted monthlySister Circle Luncheons for the women of LWAAAC to build camaraderie and friendships, and with friend Millie Overton started a walking group.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her youngest brother Kevin Shelton Woodley, her nephew Robert Anthony Bullock, and four siblings in-law: Bruce Johnson, Weldon Pankey, Anthony Bullock, and Mildred (Chapman) Woodley. She is survived by her siblings: Lester Woodley, Jr., Sharron Woodley, Patricia (Woodley) Bullock, Ronald and Patricia (Jones) Woodley, Jacquelin (Woodley) Pankey, Linda (Woodley) Johnson, Doreene Woodley, and Robin (Woodley) and Michael Morales. She is also survived by 14 nieces and nephews, 7 great-nieces and -nephews, and a large extended family including in-laws, and a chosen family of friends who loved her.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024 from 11:00am - 12:30pm at the University Christian Church

6800 Adelphi Road Hyattsville, MD 20782. Memorial contributions may be made to Court Appointed Special Advocates PG (see link below).