Janice Wear Lawton

Janice Wear Lawton, 85, of Bermuda Run, NC, died at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice House. Born October 26, 1929 in Winston-Salem, NC, she was a lifetime member of New Philadelphia Moravian Church. An active member of the church her great-grandfather was instrumental in establishing over 170 years ago, Janice was asked in the mid 1960’s to reestablish the church’s Senior High Youth Fellowship. With Janice’s natural ability to nurture young adults, the youth fellowship quickly grew from 7 members to over 50 young adults; many who remain active members of the Moravian church today.

Throughout her professional career of 58 years, Janice worked first at Piedmont Airlines, then the advertising and health care industries. She retired from Martinat Rehab Center of Novant/Forsyth Hospital. Being a proponent for women’s rights, she lobbied for the Equal Rights Amendment, and rose to the position of State President of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of North Carolina in the early 1970’s.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Frankie Harper Wear and John Brooklyn Wear, her first husband Donald Shupert Kinney, Sr., her son John Wear Kinney, and her granddaughter, Kristen Leah Dodd. She is survived by her loving husband, Robert Howard Lawton of 46 years of Bermuda Run NC, her son Donald Shupert Kinney, Jr. and wife Carolyn Underwood Kinney of Clemmons NC, her daughters Malissa Kinney Bumgarner and husband Mark Richard Bumgarner of Hickory NC, Lucetta Kinney Zaytoun of Raleigh NC and Martha Kinney Dodd of Phoenix AZ, and her son John’s wife Susan Dutton Kinney of Raleigh NC. In addition to her own children Janice accepted Robert’s daughter Debbie Williams and husband Ron Williams of Winston-Salem into her immediate family. Janice is also survived by her beloved 18 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, who loved their “Ma” dearly.

Celebrations of Janice’s life will begin on Friday, August 14, 2015 with viewing in the sanctuary at 1:00 PM at New Philadelphia Moravian Church, 4440 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, NC. A celebratory service will follow at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall after the burial. Memorial donations may be made in honor of Janice W. Lawton to New Philadelphia Moravian Church/Music Department.