December 9, 1956 – October 19, 2025
Janis Anita Brown, a passionate advocate, gifted artist, and beloved sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 19, 2025. Her presence was a light in the lives of many, and her legacy of compassion, creativity, and advocacy will live on in all who knew and loved her.
Born to the late Louis Brown and Clara Henley on December 9, 1956, in Waukegan, Illinois, Janis was raised in Leland, Mississippi. She graduated from Leland High School before pursuing her undergraduate studies at Southern Arkansas University in Pine Bluff. She later earned her Master’s Degree in Art from Columbia University in Chicago, Illinois – a fitting achievement for a woman whose creativity knew no bounds.
A master of oil painting, Janis brought to life the essence of her subjects – from intimate portraits to blooming florals – capturing beauty in ways words often failed. But Janis wasn’t just an artist on canvas; she was a storyteller whose humor and warmth could light up any room. “She’d crack you up” was more than a phrase – it was her presence.
Janis was a fierce and unwavering advocate for women’s rights, working at the Great Lakes Naval Base and later at A Safe Place, a shelter supporting women affected by domestic violence. Her commitment to justice and healing touched countless lives and strengthened the communities she served.
Beyond her professional and artistic achievements, Janis was a lover of sports – cheering on football, baseball, basketball, and tennis with joy and deep knowledge. She was also an avid reader, especially drawn to history books, always seeking to learn and grow.
Janis leaves behind a family who loved her dearly, including her siblings, Ronald Brown, Wallace Henley, Mario Brown, Angelo Brown, and Barbara Brown; her aunts, Delores Johnson, Tina Henderson, Bunniett Broom, Erma Evans, and Elmease Porter; her uncles, Tommy Curtis and Jerry Barnes, and her goddaughter, Adela Lozano. She is also remembered by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and cherished friends.
She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Louis Brown and Clara Henley; her grandmother, Annie Lee Curtis; her brothers, Hollace Henley and Erwin Brown; her uncle, Albert Curtis, Jr.; and her aunt, Virginia Johnson
The service may be viewed via livestream on the following link (Second Baptist Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/SBCKenosha/). You do not need Facebook to watch.
In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances to Women and Children’s Horizons of Kenosha (https://www.wchkenosha.org/) would be appreciated.
