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Janice “Willette” Williams Ericson passed into the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at her home in Elizabethton, Tenn.  

Willette was born in Toccoa, Ga., on September 17, 1940, to the late Herschel Williams and Sallie Mae Collins Williams. She graduated from Toccoa Falls High School and attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, to study sacred music and organ performance. Later she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s degree from East Tennessee State University.

While at Moody in Chicago, she met Keith Ericson, an aviation student. They were married on August 6, 1960. They served as missionaries in Liberia, West Africa, under the LeTourneau Foundation. In 1969, the family moved to Elizabethton to teach at Moody Aviation, then located at the Elizabethton Airport.

Willette was a gifted educator. She began teaching Sunday school as a teenager and she led Bible studies for many years. She taught for Carter County Schools for 30 years, including English, Spanish, and Glee Club at Unaka High School; and English and assistant principal at Happy Valley High School. Afterwards, she worked for the TN Department of Education, and she taught with the Niswonger Foundation for 10 years.

Music was Willette’s life ministry. At age 12, she became the pianist at Calvary Baptist Church in Toccoa. She served as an organist at Unaka Baptist Church in Stoney Creek, at Johnson City Alliance Church, and at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she was a member for the past 31 years. Her career as a church pianist and organist spanned 70 years.

Willette is survived by her husband, Keith Ericson of the home; their son, Stephen Ericson (Tina) of Lawrenceville, Ga.; their daughter, Pamela Egeler (Jonathan) of Elizabethton; two grandsons, William “Billy” Ericson (Heather) of Elizabethton and Jesse Egeler (Erika) of Pittsburgh, Pa.; two granddaughters, Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Ericson of Carrollton, Ga., and Stephanie Egeler of Durham, N.C.; great-granddaughters, Kylie and Chloe Ericson of Elizabethton; two sisters, Linda Satterfield (Tom) of Atlanta, Ga., and Deborah Moore (Mac) of Banks, Ala.; six brothers and sisters-in-law, David Ericson of Brooklyn Center, Minn., Lt. Col. Robin Ericson (Becky) of Fairfax, Va., Tim (Judi) Ericson of Castle Rock, Colo., and Jeanann Aanerud of New Hope, Minn.; 14 nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

All are invited to a memorial service on Saturday, September 7, at 3 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2343 Knob Creek Road, Johnson City, Tenn., followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall. Dr. Andy Wyatt will officiate, assisted by Dr. Mark Pierson and Rev. Bobby Roberts. Music will be under the direction of Mr. David Hale; pianist Dr. David Brickle; violinist Dr. Marianna Brickle; organist Mr. Sherrill Gibson; with music by the church choir.

Donations in memory of Janice Willette Ericson may be sent to the following: Stephanie Egeler, C/O Intervarsity, P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895; or to Mission Safety International, 328 East Elk Avenue, Suite #1, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Words of sympathy may be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.

Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton is honored to serve the Ericson family. Office Phone: (423) 542-2232.