Janet Renaud Voorhees Golson

After a long and wonderfully storied life, Janet Renaud Voorhees Golson, 92, of Cadeville, Louisiana, died peacefully on February 17, 2023, in Somervell County, Texas, surrounded by family, songs and prayers. She was born on October 8, 1930, to Lloyd and Mildred Voorhees in New Orleans, Louisiana.

She grew up with her mother and four career-oriented, adoring aunts in a rambling, beautifully built Victorian-style home in Monroe. Her mother and her “extra mothers” all doted on her as the baby of four. She married the great love of her life, A. Glenn Golson, on July 2, 1948, and over the next 21 years, they had 12 children: Glenn, Terri, Susan, Linda, John Gary, Gregg, Mary, Molly, Margaret, Joe, Mike and Rebecca. Their marriage lasted 71 ½ years, until Glenn’s death on January 7, 2020, and she missed him dearly every day of her life. After learning dance from her Aunt Dee-Dee, Ms. Janet, as her dance students called her, owned and taught at The Janet Golson School of Dance for over 50 years, teaching hundreds of students’ ballet, tap, jazz and acrobats. She started the regionally famous Golden Girls, who performed chorus-style tap dancing for festivals and gala events. They even danced for Edwin Edwards and Oliver North! Janet was an avid shell collector. She traveled to Sanibel, Florida, almost 20 times, perfecting the “Sanibel Swoop” and carefully choosing shells to create mirrors, frames, crosses, birdhouses and more. During the last years of her life, Janet developed dementia, which ultimately left her unable to live without full-time help. Her family is beyond grateful for the 5-star, loving home that her daughter Linda and partner Karen gave her, feeding her specialized meals, creating a calming and cozy atmosphere of love and comfort. They would also like to thank Interim Hospice Care, and especially nurse Jennifer for her responsive and kind care.

Mrs. Golson, as Glenn called her in a term of endearment, is survived by brother, Robert “Bobby” Voorhees and wife Peggy, children, Glenn Golson, Jr., Terri McAshan and husband John, Susan Monroe, Linda Cerda and partner Karen Povenmire, Gregg Golson and wife Barbara, Mary Bryant and husband Barry, Molly Golson and husband Tracy Byers, Margaret Butler and husband Larrie, Joe Golson and wife Madonna, Mike Golson and wife Beth, and Rebecca Sehnert and husband Claude, and over 80 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren!

She was preceded in death by “the most wonderful, handsome man”, her husband, A. Glenn Golson, Sr., sister, Jackie Voorhees, brother, Lloyd Voorhees, son, John Gary Golson, daughter-in-law, Jodie Golson, and grandchildren, Marcus Cerda, Paul Mills and Ayme Mills Hopkins.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Friday, March 3, 2023, at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at St. Paschal’s Catholic Church in West Monroe, with Father Jerry Daigle, Jr., officiating. Interment will follow at St. Paschal’s Catholic Church Cemetery in West Monroe.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Travis McAshan, John Cerda, Paul Cerda, Coy Bryant, Tim Smith and Kaleb Golson. Honorary pallbearers will be oldest grandson Aaron Golson and youngest grandson Shep Sehnert.

Memorials or donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.