Mary Janice Uptagrafft (Alford) passed from this life in the early morning hours of Thursday June 11 in the arms of her husband of more than 57 years. Janice was born at home outside of Brewton, Alabama on December 31, 1942. She was a graduate of W.S. Neal High School, Class of 1960 and a graduate of the School of Business in Mobile. She is survived by her husband Ray, her son Craig Uptagrafft and his wife Patricia Broach, daughter Mary Kaye Uptagrafft, two grandsons, Morgan (15) and Benjamin (12), her sister Gloria Jean Maxwell and her husband Richard of Brewton and many special nieces and nephews.
On December 6th, 1963 Janice was united in marriage to Ray Uptagrafft in Escambia County Alabama. The couple spent time in Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee before moving back to Alabama settling in Mobile before moving to Spanish Fort in 1979.
Mrs. Uptagrafft, “Ms. Jan” as she was affectionately known, loved children and had a special place in her heart for helping children. She worked for the Baldwin County Board of Education in the after school care program for 20 years. She never went anywhere that she wouldn’t hear “Ms. Jan” in an excited voice and turn to see either current or past students from the program to greet her with a smile and hugs. She was loving, incredibly dedicated, passionate about her purpose and enjoyed interacting with the parents and children. She has maintained some close friendships from her time working there. Everywhere she went she spread a message of encouragement, love and always willing to hug a stranger if she felt they needed it. She was also a devoted wife and mother who loved and cared for her family and would go beyond her own personal and physical hardships to make sure they had what they needed.
She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Lee (Bethune) Alford and her son Daniel Ray Uptagrafft.
Visitation will be held at Pine Crest Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home chapel beginning at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Pine Crest Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to:
http://act.alz.org/goto/Uptagrafft_Janice
Condolences may be offered at www.pinecrestfuneralhome.com.
