Janet Forehand Obituary

Janet Louise Chappell Forehand, 82, passed away on Friday, July 4, 2025. Janet was born in Belvidere, NC on June 27, 1943. Her parents were the late Nurney Dewey Chappell and Edna Phthisic Chappell. She is survived by her husband, Donald Faye Forehand; her son-in-law, Dave Stacey; two grandchildren, James T. Salmon, III (Elizabeth), and Megan Dunn White (Kevin); and four great grandchildren, Alexis Salmon, Liam Raper, Fionn Raper, and Brianna Raper. Janet was recently preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara Forehand Stacey. Her family was the light of her life.

As a young child, Janet attended Piney Woods Friends Meeting and Warwick Swamp Baptist Church. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at a young age. After marriage, she and Donald lived in Suffolk, Virginia. They joined Southside Baptist Church. What a special time they had with friendships that remain today. While at Southside, she served as Church Clerk and was a Sunday School teacher and enjoyed Vacation Bible School each summer.

When the family moved back “home, to North Carolina”, Mattie Briggs walked to see Janet one afternoon. As they sat on the front porch of the “old” White House, Janet was told, then and there, that our family would be attending Warwick as our new church home. We would have no choice in the matter. That visit made a special impression and was never forgotten. The Forehand family stepped forward (Barbara, Donald and Janet) to request membership at Warwick Swamp Baptist Church the next Sunday. God blessed our time at Warwick. Teaching the children, young adults and adults in Sunday School and serving on the Flower Committee and Church History Committee for many years, brought her much enjoyment.

She was employed at Farmers Bank of Sunbury, and First Citizens Bank, Sunbury. She retired in 1996, after working there 20 years. She and her husband, Donald spent many years traveling. A special trip was to Giverny, France, and Claude Monet’s home and famous Water Lily Pond. She had read about his pond and took many photos, while there, and painted them over the years. A favorite hobby was maintaining the Goldfish Pond she had faithfully dug and landscaped in the backyard. This pond brought her and her grandchildren many years of enjoyment. It was a frequent surprise to find fish caught in the Chowan River had been added to the pond.

The family will have a private graveside service in Piney Woods Cemetery.

Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, NC is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com