Janet Lee Umstaedter Warner

Janet Lee (Umstaedter) Warner of Greensboro, Georgia, passed away peacefully on February 29, 2024, following a brief but courageous battle with leukemia. Born on November 9, 1946, in Abbeville, South Carolina, she was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth Ann (Duryea) and William Francis Umstaedter. She is survived by her loving husband, Tommy, their two children, Tommy Warner, Jr (Catherine) and Lisa Patton (Jody), four beloved grandchildren, Tommy Warner III, Will Warner, Ben Warner and Dylan Patton, and two brothers, Bruce Umstaedter (Carol) and Kevin Umstaedter. She is also survived by a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins to whom she was very close, and of course, her wide circle of dear friends at Lake Oconee and in Athens.

Janet was raised in Abbeville, South Carolina, where she was crowned Miss Merry Christmas, but she was certainly no stranger to Athens. As a young girl she would often travel to Athens to watch her father play in the annual Crackerland tennis tournament. An athlete herself, Janet swam and played tennis, she would later come to Athens to compete in swim meets at Stegeman, so it was no surprise when she chose to attend the University of Georgia. Extremely bright and ahead of her time in many ways, Janet pursued a degree in business, receiving her B.B.A. in Insurance from UGA’s College of Business Administration (now Terry College of Business). While at UGA, Janet met fellow business student and love of her life, Tommy, whom she married on March 23, 1968, in Nashville, Tennessee. The couple then settled in Athens and began to start their family.

Janet was always active in her communities and became involved in many civic organizations in both Athens and Greensboro. She left an indelible mark on a number of activities and groups she held close to her heart, including the annual and ever-popular Athens Country Club Halloween Carnival, which she helped to found over forty years ago. An avid tennis player, Janet will also be remembered as a gracious but fierce competitor, respected and loved by all both on and off the court. Janet served as the treasurer of the The Junior League of Athens. Fond memories of her volunteer days as a candy striper at the Pink Posy at Athens Regional were often shared with both family and staff during her hospital stays. As an artist herself, she particularly enjoyed lending her support to the Oconee Performing Arts Society, where she was a member of the Chairman’s Circle and the Jeffrey Wells Society. She also supported The Plaza Arts Center and The Writers Museum in Eatonton. Janet’s giving spirit was particularly exemplified by her more than ten years of involvement with the Second Harvest and Backpack programs, which works to combat food insecurity in both Greene and Putnam counties. It was this same quiet generosity that led her and Tommy to contribute to the founding of Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro, helping to bring much-needed healthcare to the area.

While her community was very meaningful to her, Janet’s true passion was her family. She was happiest spending time with her children and grandchildren and delighted in being a part of every aspect of their lives. Whether it was trading baseball cards, watching a baseball or tennis championship, playing a simple game of UNO, decorating dorm rooms, antiquing to find the perfect piece to furnish an apartment or home, or cooking the world’s best hashbrowns, just being Wife, Mom and Honey was her favorite and most important role.

The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the staff of University Cancer and Blood Center, and Dr. Petros Nikolinakos (Dr. Nik), for their kindness and Herculean efforts to provide the best possible care available. Janet was a lung cancer survivor, and UCBC gave her the gift of five more full years of life. While Janet ultimately developed myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia, we are blessed to have had her as long as we did, and our community is equally blessed to have UCBC as a resource.

A private family memorial service will be held in Athens on Saturday, March 23, 2024, which would have been Janet and Tommy’s 56th wedding anniversary. The family will then receive visitors at the Athens home of Catherine and Corky Warner on Saturday, March 23, at 5:00 pm. A visitation will also be held in Greensboro at The Lake Club on Sunday, March 24, at 4:00 pm. Janet was the consummate hostess, intent that “a good time should be had by all” at her every event. Wickedly funny to the end, she asked that her family “tell everybody she had a nice time” and we know she would want everyone to come and enjoy one last party.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cancer Foundation, https://cancerfoundationofnega.org, which provides funding for and alleviates the financial burden of cancer for eligible patients.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.