Janice Parker Hearne

Funeral services for Janice Parker Hearne will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, April 24, 2021, with visitation from 12:00 P.M. until time of service, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe with Rev. Darron Peterson and Rev. Jimmy Williams officiating. There will be no interment service, burial will be in Springhill, LA.

Janice was born July 13, 1952, in Shreveport to her father Maurice Parker and her mother Oma Allums Parker, and went home to be with her Saviour on April 21, 2021, at the age of 68, after a three-year battle with Alzheimer’s. She graduated in 1970 from Springhill High School, earned a BA in English in 1975 from ULM, in 1977, a BS in Bible, Wesley College, Florence, MS and a Master of Library Science in 1981 from Mississippi Southern. While later employed at Wesley College, she taught English and Bible, as well as being named school Librarian. In 2003, she became employed by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health in Jackson.

Janice’s passion was playing the piano. Janice was ever grateful, in later years, for the many hours of practice urged on by her mother. At the age of 14, she became full time pianist and organist for Springhill United Methodist Church. While at ULM and Monroe, she became the organist and pianist for Stone Avenue Methodist Church. In 1977, she moved to Florence, MS and was pianist 23 years at Florence Baptist Church and later organist and pianist for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church for 12 years. She also had a passion for writing poems, around 80 written from the age of 14 to just a few months ago.

It was through her piano playing that Janice became friends with Bill Hearne, his wife Gloria and their two children as Bill was leading the song service on Sunday nights at the Springhill Church. After Janice moved to ULM, Bill, having been transferred to Monroe earlier, contacted Janice and she agreed to be the pianist for Stone Avenue Methodist Church. While at Wesley College, she would make trips to Springhill, stopping at the Hearne’s home for a visit. In 2012, Gloria contracted leukemia and passed away. Years before this time, for some reason only know then to the Lord, Gloria told Bill she knew who would make him a good wife, Janice Parker. On May 5, 2013, Janice Parker and Bill Hearne were wed, Janice’s first marriage at 60 years of age. Janice moved from Pearl, MS, to West Monroe to begin a new chapter in her life with Bill. Her work at Yeager Methodist Protestant Church included substituting for the church pianist as needed, and a teacher for adults on a Wednesday night Bible study. Janice and her husband Bill, who was an ordained minister and had pastored the church for 29 years before retirement, were in charge of the church visitation program until her health prevented her from visiting. In July 2018, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As the disease rapidly took hold, Janice was placed in StoneyBrook Alzheimer’s Assisted Living Care on April 8, 2021.

Janice never had children but in 2013 children came into her life, stepchildren. She claimed them as hers and they claimed her. As to a wife after 60 years of being single, she could not have been a sweeter, kinder, a more compassionate and equal partner in marriage, but a life far too short.

Janice is preceded in death by her parents; a stepson, Billy Hearne, Jr.; aunts, Marvin Napper, and Yvonne Braley, all of West Monroe. She is survived by her husband, Bill M. Hearne; one stepdaughter, Lauren Flemmons (Jimmy) of Lovington, NM; step grandchildren, Amanda Whatley of West Monroe, and Dylan Elliott (Allison) of Downsville; one step great granddaughter, Averi Whatley; and one sweet doggie whom she dearly loved, Emily.

Memorials can be made to Yeager Methodist Protestant Church, The Gideons, your favorite charity of simply in flowers.