Janet Fryman Davis

Born on June 4, 1940 to parents Willard and Julia Mockabee, she grew up in Dayton, Ohio together with her older sister Judy and younger brother Larry. She attended Oakwood high and spent one year at Otterbein College before transferring to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio,

It was while at Miami that she met Richard Felix Fryman. The two fell in love and were married on August 17, 1963. The couple moved from Ohio to Illinois, where they had two sons, Matthew Wallace and William Felix (Matt and Billy).

The family relocated to Carrollton, Georgia in 1986 and she and Richard retired on Daniel Island, South Carolina in 2004.

Wherever they were, Janet filled their home with joy, love and creativity. She loved to cook and used food to spread joy and show her love to friends and family. She was a gracious host, and she and Richard threw frequent parties and get-togethers for friends, neighbors, colleagues and international students.

Teaching was Janet’s passion, and after receiving her degree in education from Miami, she taught primary school in Champagne, Carbondale and Cario, Illinois, St. Thomas, USVI, and Carrollton and Villa Rica, Georgia. She always found new and inventive ways to make learning fun and generations of children benefited from Janet’s gentle and creative teaching style.

She was a life-long student; she received a master’s degree in elementary education from Southern Illinois University, a specialist degree in early childhood education from the University of West Georgia and took numerous continuing education classes. At the age of 73, she was certified as a Master Naturalist by the state of South Carolina.

Janet’s love of teaching was only outdone by her love for her family. Family was at the center of her universe and she would go to any length to be near them and ensure that they were well cared for.

After Richard died, Janet was fortunate to find love again. She met Erle Davis through their church, Trinity United Methodist in Charleston, SC, and they were married in 2012.

Janet was active in the Methodist church. She helped organize and cooked dinners for the homeless and hungry in the community and served on the United Methodist Women’s committee and many outreach programs. She had strong faith and truly lived by Jesus’s teachings, not out of a sense of obligation, but because she knew that it is right to love thy neighbor, help the weak and to turn the other cheek. She opposed war, abhorred bullies and was accepting of all cultures, lifestyles and points of view.

Janet had an unswervingly positive outlook on life and always believed in the best in people. Yet she was always ready to take a stand and fight for injustices and causes she believed in. She was active in the League of Women Voters and fought for the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment. Environmental causes held a special place in her heart, and she donated her time, treasure and talent to the preservation of natural habitats.

Never one to sit still, Janet began running in her early 40s (perhaps to escape her adolescent boys!) and continued into her 70s. She participated in 5K and 10K road races and even completed a half marathon. She often joked that she would regularly win medals in the races because she was usually the only runner in her age bracket.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard, and her second husband, Erle. She is survived by her son Matthew, his wife Cat and children Katie and David, her son William, his wife Rikke and children Audrey, Felix, and Elliot, her sister, Judy, and brother, Larry and many nieces and nephews. Janet will be sorely missed by her friends, family and everyone whose life she touched. We are grateful for the time we had together and know that the world is a better place because she was in it.

A celebration of Janet’s life will be held February 18, 2023 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 273 Meeting St., Charleston, SC, at 1:00 p.m. with a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Janet’s name to a charity of your choice.