Janice Penley Cooksey departed this life on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

She was born in Fort Peck, Mont., on April 7, 1936, and was 81 years old. She was the daughter of Charles William Penley and Annie Mae Barber Penley.

Janice loved Christ, her family and her country. A longtime member of First Baptist Church of Vicksburg, she loved her Sunday school class and taught Children’s Sunday school in her younger years.

A devoted parent, she was active in PTA and as a room mother. Through the years she enjoyed needlepoint, cross-stitching, cooking and baking. She was an avid canasta and bridge player and loved her Engineers Auxiliary friends and looked forward to the weekly card playing and lunch. Janice also looked forward to her monthly lunches with the Steel Magnolia’s.

Janice was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Janice was preceded in death by her husband, David Lee Cooksey and her parents, Charles William and Annie Mae Penley.

She is survived by her children, Kevin (Mary June) Cooksey and Cynthia Cooksey Beasnett; grandchildren, Adren Cooksey, Joy Arledge, Kurt (Claiborne) Cooksey and Cameron Cooksey, all of Vicksburg.

She is also survived by her beloved brother, Charles William Penley Jr. of Broken Arrow, Okla.

Janice was a stay-at-home mother for her two children for many years before deciding to go to work. She worked as a receptionist for Dr. Sam Rowlett then Dr. Dan Dare for over 20 years.

The strength and love exemplified by Janice throughout her life taught her family to always persevere and will keep her FAMILY STRONG!

Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Glenwood Funeral Home. Further visitation will be Saturday, March 17, 2018, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Glenwood Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be Saturday, March 17, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Glenwood Funeral Home of Vicksburg. Internment will follow at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Love Sunday School class.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Vicksburg or Gideon’s International.