Mrs. Janell McMillan

Memorial services for Mrs. Janell McMillan, 91, of Henderson, will be at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at Crawford - A. Crim Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Tim Wade officiating. The family will receive friends one hour before the service. Mrs. McMillan passed away Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Lenora Janell Cottrell was born on November 17, 1932, in the Ebenezer community eight miles outside of Troy, TN. She was the beloved youngest of ten children born to William Luther and Mary Ellen Cottrell. Janell, as she preferred to be known, passed away at her home outside of Henderson, TX, on December 12, 2023. She was 91 years old and had fought a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. Janell graduated from Troy High School in Troy, TN, and set out for adventure. She attended Union University in Jackson, TN, and Southwestern Seminary in Dallas, TX, earning two undergraduate degrees in English and in Education. She met her husband, Dale McMillan, while serving as youth minister for South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena, TX. Janell and Dale went on to have three children, daughters Susan and Sunni, and son Paul, in their long life together. Janell was bright and vivacious. She loved people and she loved to learn. She had an indomitable spirit and never met someone she couldn’t find something in common with. She was a talker and a storyteller, and always found humor in any situation. Anyone who spent time with her knew the twinkle in her eye was a sign of keen observation and a quick mind. She received two additional degrees in her life, a Masters of Education at Stephen F. Austin State University and a Masters of Library Science at Sam Houston State University. Long a book lover, Janell was able to fulfill her passion as a children’s librarian for the latter part of her long career in education. She was especially fond of the time she spent before retirement at Grace Christian School in Houston. Janell kept a well-loved library at school and at home and directed many children to a book that sparked their interest and a lifelong love of reading. She made friends wherever she went and always had a tale to share. She loved to roam and setting out on a day trip gave her immense pleasure. She was a frequent visitor to Galveston Island and all the tony shopping districts around Houston. She could always find a bargain, whether it was boutique dresses or Italian leather shoes. She was stylish and bold. Always wearing bright red lipstick and Estee Lauder perfume, Janell stood out in a crowd. She loved music and the arts, introducing her children to the ballet, the symphony, and Broadway musicals, of which she had many favorites. She loved to sing and was a long time member of her church choir. She could often be heard humming or singing her favorite songs and hymns. She also loved sports and in her younger years, she participated in basketball, tennis, and cheerleading. She was always up for a walk, no matter how long or how far and vastly preferred moving to sitting still. Her beloved Houston Rockets were a favorite but she could be drawn into most any football or basketball game on a nearby tv. She shared once that she would have loved to have been a sportscaster and she had the personality for it. Janell was deeply kind and felt God in all the ways of beauty in the world, from music to books to nature. Her faith was quiet and thoughtful and sustained her through dark moments. An unabashed extrovert, she looked for good in people and wanted to connect with kindred spirits. Embodying a truly Christian outlook, she inspired others by finding community and connection with those different from her. This led her to have many friends far and wide. In her last years, Janell was cared for by her loving husband Dale who kept her safe and comfortable at home as she battled her ever advancing Alzheimer’s. Janell was preceded in death by six sisters, Audie, Alta, Ludie, Lula May, Aileen, and Margaret, and three brothers, Pete, JD, and Bill. In addition to her husband of 62 years and her three children, Janell leaves behind seven grandchildren: Kameron, Claudia, Devin, Maggie, Isabella, Erin, and Rory, and one great-granddaughter, Parker. She loved her family and was never happier than when she was surrounded by them, talking, playing a game of Rook or dominoes, and sipping the straight black coffee she drank by the pot. Janell’s family and friends carry memories and stories of a beloved mother, grandmother, and companion in our hearts. She will be deeply missed but we can take comfort in knowing she is in a particularly pleasant slice of heaven, surrounded by family and old friends, drinking hot coffee, and always finding new people to laugh with. We love you, Janell. Condolences may be made at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mrs. Janell McMillan

November 17, 1932 - December 12, 2023