Janet Strang

Janet Johnston Strang died peacefully on January 8, 2023 after 95 years of love to her family, friends, and individuals with special needs. She was born on September 19, 1927 to Margaret and Garrett Johnston in Chattanooga, TN, and she lived in the local area all her life.

Her early school years were spent in a one-room schoolhouse, later attending Girls’ Preparatory School for high school where she was the May Queen in 1945. She graduated from Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut with a degree in history. Later in life, she went back to school and obtained a teaching degree. She worked at Clara Carpenter Elementary school for several years.

After college, she married James M. Strang who died after 61 years of a happy life raising their four sons together. She is survived by her sons James Jr. (Cheryl), Garrett (Annick), John, Philip (Tara), eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

She loved her church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and always held small jobs for the church. In the summers, she attended the Little Brown Church where she was devoted attendee for 70 years. She loved the sports of golf and flyfishing and was an avid bridge player. Most of all, she loved volunteering at Orange Grove Center with individuals with disabilities. She was instrumental in the organization of Orange Grove School in the 1950’s, and she worked in many areas to improve and initiate services for the students. Janet was on the board of Orange Grove for over 50 years, was on the honorary board of Orange Grove until she passed away, and she received numerous awards for her service. She was civic-minded and was a member of the Junior League of Chattanooga, serving as President of this organization. Janet thought it very important to give back to the community.

She was a wonderful and caring mother and grandmother. She enjoyed teaching her grandchildren to garden, to fly-fish, to cook, play card games, and to do the things that she thought were important for them to learn. She and her husband were members of the Toe River Club in Newland, NC for many years, where they had a passion for fly-fishing and sharing adventures with their family. Janet and her husband enjoyed traveling, and they especially enjoyed taking their family on many trips that will always be remembered fondly. She was a former member of Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, Lookout Mountain Golf Club, and the Honors Course.

Services will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Visitation will be at 2:00. The service will be at 3:00 with the Reverend Brad Whitaker officiating. There will be a reception at the church following the ceremony.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Orange Grove Center, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and Little Brown Church.