Janice Harben

Janice Journey Harben passed away from this life on Wednesday, May 4^th, 2022.  She was born on March 2, 1948, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.  Jan blessed her family and friends with deep love and dedication to helping and encouraging them always.

As a child, Jan moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and to Shreveport, Louisiana, where she graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1966.  She attended Centenary College in Shreveport, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, arriving just before the New Year 1969, where she made her home and raised her family.  

Soon after arriving in Atlanta, Jan met her future husband, Ernest Harben. She worked in the Rich’s offices downtown until leaving to be at home while her children were young. She loved her brief tenure teaching at a neighborhood preschool.  As her children grew, Jan made a second career working for the federal government for twenty years.

Jan traveled whenever the opportunity came.  She loved her family’s annual trips to the North Georgia mountains in the fall to see the leaves and family beach vacations in the summer.  Long car trips with her husband and children to visit her family in Shreveport and Dallas, Texas were beloved treks made as often as possible. She was thrilled to join her sister Rene on trips around the country, their highlights included Colorado and Amish country.  One of her favorite stories to tell was how overcome they were by the altitude at Pike’s Peak. Jan loved music, José Feliciano (whose concert was her first date with her husband), Rod McKuen, and Dusty Springfield were her favorites.

Jan was a longtime member of Briarcliff United Methodist Church.  She held leadership positions with the Children’s Ministry and was active in the United Methodist Women.  While raising her children, she was also active in the PTA and their school communities. Jan loved doing things for her friends and found joy in helping other people. Jan also enjoyed practical jokes and April Fool's Day so much that her children learned not to believe anything she said on that day, and her friends enjoyed her jokes and pranks.  She read a great deal and loved all types of books.

Jan loved living in Atlanta and her long-time home in Tucker.  She thought that Atlanta was perfect when she arrived in 1969, and should have stayed that size forever, but she loved visiting the High Museum and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens with her husband.  At home, she loved gardening, taking time to tend to her flowers and appreciate her beautiful yard.  In retirement she kept her calendar full by attending her grandchildren’s concerts, sporting events, and recitals and delighted in celebrating not just their accomplishments, but every moment spent together.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, James Hugh Journey and Rene (Deaver) Journey; her siblings James (Jimmy) Journey, Jr., Rene Journey Lewis, and Jennifer Journey.

Jan is survived by her husband, Ralph Ernest (Ernie) Harben, Jr.; daughter Jennifer Harry and husband Keshawn; daughter Beth Myers and husband John; daughter Becky Gravley and husband Duane; her grandchildren Logan, Wes, Mallory, Violet, Brady, Avery, and Lily Rose; her sister Jill Turnage and husband Richard; her brother Jerry Journey and wife Pam; and her beloved nieces and nephews.