Janet Elaine Humble Roundtree's Obituary
Janet Elaine Humble Roundtree, 70, woman of God, daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, of Decatur, IL arrived in heaven on July 22, 2019 (3:43 a.m.) at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL.
A visitation will be held on Friday, August 2 from 5-7 p.m. with a funeral service on Saturday, August 3 at 11 a.m. (Final viewing at 10 a.m.) Both services to be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Decatur. Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Janet was born January 2, 1949, in Mound City, IL, the daughter and sixth child of Mildred (Brown) and Frederick Humble. Janet was proudly raised from a baby by Birdie and Mel Madison as their only child in Olmstead, IL. Janet married Joe Roundtree in Metropolis, IL on August 18, 1968. They were divorced on August 25, 1988, but remained friends and spectacular co-parents and co-grandparents throughout all of the years.
Janet graduated from Mounds Meridian High School in 1967. She enrolled in Southeast College in Harrisburg, IL in 1967. After completing a year of education there, she moved to Decatur with her then husband, Joe Roundtree, in 1968. For 12 years, not believing she could have any children, Janet shared all of her love with each of her nieces and nephews. Holding a special place in her heart were Nishelle and Quinton Morrissey; they lived with and were raised by Janet and Joe for several years. On August 15, 1980, Janet gave birth to her only child, a daughter, Julia Elaine Roundtree Livingston. As a non-traditional student, Janet went back to school to complete her Associate’s Degree from Richland Community College and her Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State University. Janet advocated for education and wanted to be a great role model.
Janet was a Decatur resident for 51 years. As she allowed God to lead every day of her life, Janet was a member of Community Church of God, Prairie Avenue Christian Church, Grace United Methodist Church and at the time of her death, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. As a devout Christian and an ever-praying woman, Janet’s church community and relationships meant so much to her. There was not a day that Janet did not speak with someone about their faith in God.
In her over 48 years of working, Janet was known for her hard work, dependability, kind customer service, and her promptness that mean arriving at least an hour ahead of time. Beginning in 1969, Janet worked for Kemper Insurance as an underwriter. In 1972, she began working for Mallinckrodt/Carter-Wallace Laboratories/Meda Pharmaceuticals where she learned and executed many positions for 44 years. As a single mom, Janet worked many other side jobs alongside of her full-time position at Meda for 44 years in order to take care of herself and her daughter including Watkins Bible & Bookstore, housecleaning, Berean Bookstore, and TJ Maxx.
Although Janet worked so much, she still found time for volunteering: Sunday School teacher, VBS coordinator and volunteer, board secretary of Neihsler Credit Union, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, local political volunteer, and so much more.
Janet’s favorite things included her family; anyone needing her prayers; and cheering for her favorite sports teams—any team her daughter or grandchildren were on or that her son-in-law coached, the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bears, and the Fighting Illini.
Janet is preceded in death by her aunt and uncle who raised her, Birdie and Mel Madison; her mother and father, Mildred and Frederick Humble; and her older brother, James Humble. Janet is survived by her only child, Julia Elaine Roundtree Livingston (Stanford II) and her three grandchildren who she loved so dearly, Joella (12), Stanford III (6), and Silas (5); her sisters, Phyllis Murden, Carol (Ted Carroll) Belle, Marion Robinson, and Dorothy (James) Madison; her brothers, Lewis (Sallie) Humble, Michael (Brenda) Humble, and Darryl (Sallie) Humble; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials in Janet’s name may be made to Macon County CASA.
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