Janet Louise Craig

Janet Louise (Payne) Craig was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 23, 1943 to Adam Joseph Payne and Louise Dewar Payne. Her older brother, Thomas, was born 2 years previously. Her father owned an auto parts store and the family lived in the apartment above the shop in the suburb of Lansing. Jan helped in the shop throughout her early life, ultimately leaving to become a stewardess with the original Frontier Airlines training on the DC-3 and Convair 580 aircraft based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. Following an illness that required a career change a few years later, Jan started work at Lutheran Bible Translators in Orange County, California. She ultimately met Dave Craig at a singles group at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and they wed on May 17, 1980. Their only child, Laura, was born in November 1982. Jan served her family as a homemaker throughout Laura's education, later becoming a caregiver for her mother-in-law, her own mother, and her brother further down the line. In her free time, Jan loved to volunteer caring for the infants at multiple MOPS programs in her hometown. She spent hours pouring over her weekly Bible study lessons that she attended faithfully for many years as well. Jan's grandchildren were her pride and joy. Her granddaughter, Avery, was born in 2013 and her grandson, Nathanael, was born in 2021. In 2022, Jan and Dave decided to be closer to Laura and the family and made the tough decision to move from sunny and warm southern California ultimately landing in Gladys, Virginia purchasing some land where Jan enjoyed the flock of laying hens, dogs, cat, and rabbits they raised. Jan leaves behind her husband Dave of 44 years, daughter Laura (Hunter), grandchildren Avery and Nathanael, nephews Daniel Payne and James Payne, as well as a sister-in-law (Sandra Notthoff), brother-in-law (John Craig) and many extended family. Jan loved Jesus and instilled that love into her family, always reminding them that the Lord is faithful and just (1 John 1:9). She also fervently loved animals throughout her life- they somehow always knew and gravitated to her, too. We were blessed to know and love her and are looking forward to the day we will see her again with our Savior in Heaven. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to organizations she loved and supported during her life: Samaritan's Purse International and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization. A celebration of life will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Finch & Finch Chapel, Altavista by Pastor James Mashburn with interment to follow in Altavista Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m., Friday at Finch & Finch Funeral and Cremation Service, Altavista.

Janet Louise Craig

February 23, 1943 - November 27, 2024