The day has come.
The day God knew, before Janice had breathed her first breath or took her first step.
God says in Psalms 139:16, “He saw you before you were born, and every day of your life was ordained and recorded in His book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
God is in total control of life and death. Neither happens without His purpose, plan and direction.
Evelyn “Janice” Green (née Sorey), has died aged 88, she is fondly remembered by her family, and around the world for her Gospel singing ministry & as the long-time wife of Tucson Tabernacle’s founder Rev. Pearry Green.
Janice is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, step-mother, siblings, and a granddaughter. She is survived by her loving daughters, Karen Greene, Evelyn "Janet" (Trey) Jackson, and Tina (Rich) Giberti; 10 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Janice was born November 17, 1934, she lived in Richland & Rayville, Louisiana with her father, Clifton, and her mother, Marie, and 2 older brothers Eugene & Calvin, and younger sister Peggy Sue.
A country girl at heart, Janice was raised on a small farm, where she picked cotton, and hunted snakes with “Bobby Jo” her German Shepherd. Growing up on a cotton farm, she was no stranger to a hard life. In the 1950s, cotton was often still picked by hand, workers moved through the fields trailing 10 foot long sacks that would weigh up to 100 pounds when full. Their hands would end up bloody from the sharp spikes on the cotton plants.
With this in mind, her dad determined to not have her “hauling cotton sacks” after graduating high school, and had her enroll in Bible college.
In 1953 she attended Southwestern Bible Institute in Waxahachie, Texas. While attending there, she met her future husband & ministry partner Rev. Pearry Green.
After a small wedding ceremony in her parents Rayville, Louisiana living room, she moved to Beaumont, Texas where Pearry was pastor.
In 1965, Brother Pearry, Sister Janice & family moved to Tucson, Arizona and started Tucson Tabernacle, where they pastored for nearly 50 years.
She remembered the move looked comical, their caravan consisted of a tank-like Lincoln, an old panel milk truck, a trailer, three kids, a horse and a cow!
With no experience as a minister’s wife, Janice was thrust into the world of public life, hosting church leaders, which she handled with grace & dignity. “Sister Green” was well known and internationally beloved as a gifted singer and musician, her albums “A Perfect Heart”, and “Joy Comes in the Morning” are listened to in countless homes around the world.
Janice lived a life for Christ, and she also exuded peace in the midst of the storm. Janice was soft-spoken and matter of fact. She spent her life studying God’s word and growing in God’s glory.
Janice stood as a great example of what it means to be a Godly woman. If you truly knew her life, you stood amazed at her patience, and long-suffering.
This day we speak of death. Its thought terrifies and paralyzes. Yet, Janice was not afraid. She said so. And if you had been around her towards the end, you knew it to be true.
I too am unafraid of death and the thought of death doesn’t rattle me as it may others. I am unafraid, not because of my own personal experiences, but rather because of faith.
Faith allows us to walk through & right on past the shadow of death. Is God not with us?
Janice lives on, in our minds, in our hearts, and through her music; just not in a physical body here on earth. For her, there are no more shadows. No more fear. She is no longer a pilgrim.
She is home. The home, as Christians we have longed for, sought after & our heart’s truest, deepest hope.
It is our “long home”, our forever home.
Solomon’s words written thousands of years ago are concise and true today, “man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets…”
Janice has gone home!
It will be beautiful.
It will be glorious.
It will be peaceful & harmonious.
It will be musical & lyrical.
It will be home.
Janice will fit right in.
In Revelation 21:4, John writes about heaven and says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Janice lived a life fully devoted to the Lord and I know that she is receiving her reward. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords has welcomed Janice with open arms and given her the keys to her heavenly mansion.
She is free. She is singing as an angel, with the angels & saints who have gone before.
She is home.
John 14:2-3 reads, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
It is human to mourn. But be certain of what you mourn.
Before you mourn the death of a Christian, rejoice in their life, and rejoice in them entering the kingdom of heaven.
Don’t long for her to be here with us. Rather, long to be there with her!
With her three daughters by her side, she heard the heavenly dinner bell!; Evelyn “Janice” Green, Gospel singer/minister’s wife, born November 17, 1934, took a walk up the golden stairs, right through the pearly gates, all the way home this June 15th, 2023.
Psalms 116:15 reads. “Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His Saints.”
We often think about our longing to be in Heaven, to be reunited with loved ones, and to walk forever with Jesus.
In matters of salvation we consider God’s love; but it’s important to be reminded that His death, burial & resurrection were the means to His end goal—eternal reconciliation & loving, blissful relationship. He loves us, and longs for us more than we could ever long for him.
Rejoice with me! Rejoice with the angels! Rejoice for heaven! Rejoice for and with God!! Janice is home!
In lieu of flowers, financial contributions in memory of Janice Green can be made to The Gospel Rescue Mission.
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