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MURFREESBORO- Janet Gibbs Vincent, departed this life on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. She was surrounded by her loved ones. Janet was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina on Oct. 27, 1936 to Norma and George Gibbs, and at the age of three, moved with her family to Murfreesboro. Except for a short time in Bowling Green, Virginia and Rich Square, North Carolina, Janet lived her entire life in Murfreesboro.

Janet had a great love and attachment to the town of Murfreesboro and her many lifelong friends. She graduated from Murfreesboro High School in 1954 and then attended UNC-G. In 1955, Janet married Hugh C. Vincent Jr., from Southampton County, Virginia. The couple was determined to have a large family and for the rest of Janet’s life her primary focus was her family.

Janet was incredibly talented and skilled in many ways. She was a master game player whether it was Monopoly, Scrabble, Canasta, etc. and there was great competition among the children with the goal to try to beat their mother —which was pretty much impossible. She was a talented seamstress and could make anything and design her own patterns. She made beautiful and stylish clothing for the children, along with dolls, quilts, and many other items. Her Halloween costume designs were legendary and she also whipped up historic garb for the entire family in celebration of various Murfreesboro celebrations. Janet loved all kinds of music and especially enjoyed the many years of making music with her friends and their group, the Potecasi Creek String Band. Janet had a background in piano, but in later years she mastered the dulcimer. She was inspired by her love of mountain music which also led her to “piddle” with the banjo from time to time. Janet was also a fantastic cook, and she rarely needed a recipe. Her desserts and cakes were unparalleled, and she was especially known for her elaborate and delicious birthday cakes.

Janet was independent, witty and adventurous. Even though she lived most of her life on flat land, her love for the mountains never left her. Her parents were both from the North Carolina mountains (Haywood, Jackson, Rutherford and Polk counties.) Each summer, the Vincent family would pack up at the end of the school year and head to Lake Lure, North Carolina for the entire summer. Janet would drive the station wagon packed to the gills with six kids and two dogs, and pulling the ski boat behind. (Hugh would join on weekends as he traveled much of the time working). This was a really long trip back then (at least 10 hours). The family would stop at rest areas and enjoy picnics–pimento cheese sandwiches and Kool-Aid were the best. Janet would lead the kids in singing throughout the trip and whoever caught first sight of the mountains would break out with “She’ll be Coming Round the Mountains…” and “Good Old Mountain Dew”. When we arrived at the Lake, the boat had to be launched which meant backing the boat down the public boat ramp. Mind you that Janet did not know how to back the boat up, which really didn’t concern her. She’d tell the kids to “hush up”, and she would make a couple of feeble attempts and sure enough some sympathetic man would come over and kindly launch the boat…the kids were always mortified by this, and Janet just laughed.

Janet was a lifelong member of Murfreesboro Baptist Church. Throughout her life, the fellowship of the Church has been extremely important to Janet and the entire family. Janet and Hugh have been strong supporters of Chowan University and the Murfreesboro Historic Association throughout the years.

Janet was preceded in death by her beloved husband of more than 66 years, Hugh C. Vincent Jr., her youngest child, Kevin Douglas Vincent; her parents (Norma Burnette Gibbs and George E. Gibbs); her brother, Douglas Gibbs and her great-granddaughter, Lily Grace Morhard.

She is survived by her five children, Dane Vincent, Dean Vincent, Carol Vincent Miller, Christina Vincent and Hugh C. Vincent III; her 11 grandchildren (Joshua Miller; Laura, Elizabeth, and Christopher Vincent; Matthew and Brian Vincent; Emilie Mortensen Boone; Rebecca Mortensen and Lucas Mortensen; Jamie Vincent Morhard; Aaron Vincent); and seven great-grandchildren. This list of family would not be complete without mentioning Douglas Tyler, a long-time friend that Hugh, Janet and the entire Vincent family consider as family, along with his wife, Kathie. In addition, the family thanks Home Life Care for providing excellent assistance to Janet at home, and particularly Casey Michael and Doris Gatling, who were helpers and companions to Janet.

A memorial service will be held at Murfreesboro Baptist Church on Saturday, Oct. 26, at noon. Immediately following the service, everyone is invited to lunch at the Fellowship Hall at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Murfreesboro Baptist Church, 200 W. Main Street, Murfreesboro, NC 27855; Murfreesboro Historic Association/Vincent Deal Blacksmith Shop, 116 E. Main Street, Murfreesboro, NC 27855; or Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741; or you may donate online by visiting: www.tmcfunding.com/search; type Janet Vincent.

Garrett-Sykes Memorial Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Vincent family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.