Janice Renshaw

She grew up there, attending various grade schools, and becoming good friends with a young boy named James Kenneth Bigham. They continued their friendship as they both attended Adamson High School, eventually graduating while high school sweethearts.

She and James were married on October 4, 1946 and continued to reside in Dallas, where James became a firefighter. Their son, Rickey, was born in 1948 and their daughter, Karen, was born in 1950.

Their marriage ended with James' tragic death while fighting a fire on February 16, 1964.

Janice and the the two children decided to take a trip to California and visit with family living in Antioch, California. Following their return to Texas, Janice decided to relocate herself, her mother, who was now widowed, and the two children to California and moved to Antioch in 1965.

She began to attend church at First Missionary Baptist Church on Texas Street in Antioch, where she took an active role in the church's youth group along with other adult members. One of those members was a divorced father of three boys by the name of James Renshaw. The two became good friends and eventually decided to marry and blend their two families on September 23, 1967. Janice was an extraordinary mother to all of her children and the two families have always regarded one another as one family. James and Janice became members of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in 1976, prior to the construction of their home on Mallard Lane in Oakley by James and the family.

Janice continued actively participating in the Oakley Church in various capacities. Many members who had weddings and other special events can fondly remember how beautifully she constructed their cakes for these occasions.

On August 12, 2003 Janice lost James to mesothelioma and continued to reside in the house on Mallard Lane, continuing to bless her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with her sweet, warm influence and presence in their lives in so many wonderful, thoughtful ways.

Somehow, no matter where she was, her warm and sweet nature seemed to be noticed and appreciated by all around her, including staff and fellow residents of Cypress Meadows Assisted Living Facility, in Antioch, where she resided for about a year and a half after developing dementia. Janice finally succumbed to the effects of this condition on her body and passed away there on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 87 years of age.

She is survived by her sons

Rick Bigham(Vickie) of Grant's Pass, Or.

Larry Renshaw(Sharon) of Antioch, CA

Stan Renshaw(Mary) of Antioch, CA

Curtis Renshaw(Cindy) of Brentwood, CA

Her daughter, Karen Hernandez(Bob) passed away in 2015.

Janice is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 15 great granchildren.