Jan Ward Akin, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many, has gone to be with her Lord Jesus. Jan's warm smile, generous spirit and open arms will be greatly missed by family and friends. She died on April 10, 2021, following a courageous 2.5 year battle against pancreatic cancer.
Jan was born January 5, 1939, to J.V. and Jesse R. Ward and loved growing up on her dad's beautiful farm in small-town Hartselle, Alabama. She was heavily involved in her church, playing piano and singing in the choir. She attended "MCHS"-graduated with honors, sang in glee club and "the Tigerettes Quartet," was student council president and voted "best looking girl" in her 1957 Senior Class.
After "MCHS" graduation she got an accounting degree from Anderson College and then worked at Worthington Corp's Decatur plant where she became Payroll Supervisor and then Comptroller. Jan said she met her lifemate at Worthington in 1962 and married Joe on December 28, 1963. After transfer, they loved working at Worthington's Sales Office in Mountain Brook. Their only daughter, Lynn, was born in 1970.
From late 1965 until 2000, Jan continued her accounting career with Hendon engineers, various insurance agencies and retired from the Holly Tree. After getting a Computer Science degree at Samford, she ended her working days at Delta Aire Systems.
Jan and friends created "the Rose Garden Bible Study" and hosted several bridge clubs while also supporting Lynn's sports activities at Mountain Brook and Auburn University.
She loved to take family and friends to "the beach house" in Destin, where they marveled at God's creation while getting their beach tans. Jan played golf in "the Fabulous Foursome" and the Friday afternoon couples scramble called "the Moonbeamers." She chaired the Ladies Golf Association and was on the Lady Legacy Board.
For over 40 years, Jan enjoyed sitting with family and friends to watch Auburn sporting events on campus. During those years, Jan and Joe were inducted into Tigers Unlimited/ Eagle Society/Foy Society/ and Samford Society.
Jan was a member of Oakmont/Chapel Church where she sang in the choir and enjoyed the Wednesday Night fellowship dinners.
Jan is survived by Joe A. Akin, her husband of 57 years; her daughter, Lynn Akin Frasier (Louis); her granddaughters, Evan S. and Elise M. Elkins; and her nieces, Louise T. Burke (Dennis) and Rebecca (Becky) Thomas. She thanks Dr. Harvey, Dr. Jones, and the nurses in the chemo lab at Grandview Cancer Clinic, as well as all the friends, who prayed during her cancer battle. Instead of flowers, gifts should be made to Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church.
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