Janet Smith was born on June 29, 1955, in Americus, Georgia, to Curtis and Bertha Mitchell. She graduated from Americus High School in 1973. She enlisted in the United States Navy on February 8, 1979, serving at the Chief Petty Officer’s rank until her retirement on January 1, 2009. Janet was a veteran of both Gulf War I and Gulf War II and was recognized for numerous awards throughout her military career. She earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biomedical Engineering from DeVry University in 2011.
Janet died peacefully on November 26, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 65. She is preceded in death by her mother, Bertha Mae Mitchell, and father, Curtis Mitchell, Sr of Americus, GA; brother, John Zanders, Sr. of Plains, Georgia; brother, Edward Zanders of Queens, New York; and sister, Linda Harley of Brooklyn, New York.
She is survived by her son, Dr. William T. Hoston Sr. and daughter-in-law Cecilia Hoston and her grandson William T. Hoston Jr. of Houston, Texas; sister, Ordella Westbrooks of Americus, Georgia; sister, Patrice Josey of Americus, Georgia; brother, Curtis Mitchell, Jr of Midwest City, Oklahoma and wife Jean; brother, Carl Mitchell of Brooklyn, New York, and brother, Dr. Mark Mitchell and wife Freda of Spokane, Washington; and lifelong best friends Thelma C. and Sonny Owens of Americus, Georgia. Also, she is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews, friends, and fellow veterans.