Janie Bedwell Meadows passed peacefully into the presence of her Savior on June 1, 2026, at the age of 77. She was surrounded by the love of her family at the Regional One Health Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Janie Marie was born on February 25, 1949, in Arcata, California, to Virginia Marie (Kitchen) Bedwell and James David Bedwell. When she was just six weeks old, her family returned to St. Francis, Arkansas. Her mother often said that she missed her own mother so much that they simply could not stay in California. Returning home allowed them to be near Janie's grandparents, Ruby and Ted Kitchen, and Arkansas remained home throughout Janie's life. She graduated from Piggott High School on May 19, 1967. Earlier that same year, on March 3, 1967, she married Ross Lynn Reagan in Piggott, Arkansas. Though their marriage was brief, they welcomed a daughter, Kim, in September 1968. Janie later married Glen E. "Rusty" Smith on May 1, 1970, in Boydsville, Arkansas. Together they shared 28 years of marriage and raised four children: Kimberly Marie Smith, Melissa Diane Smith, Carletta Dawn Smith, and Glen Edwin Smith, Jr. in Kennett, MO. On April 17, 1999, she married John Earl Jones, and they shared 23 years together in Malden, MO. In 2022, Janie met Jim Meadows. She said she fell in love immediately. Jim treated her like a queen, and together they enjoyed many new adventures and "firsts." They married on March 13, 2025, and built a very happy life together, including adopting two dogs and two cats who quickly became part of the family. Janie believed that learning should never stop. As a nontraditional student, she graduated from Mississippi County Community College in May of 1996, and later graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in December of 2005 with her teaching degree.

Her life's work centered on serving others. She worked as a teacher's aide and part-time bus driver for Kennett Public Schools. She was the director of the Summer Food Program for years. She worked for the Malden Head Start and later served as the Director of the DAEOC Kennett Early Head Start program, helping support children and families in her community. Even after retirement, she continued working part-time as an office assistant for the Dunklin County Transit Services in Malden. And of course, she helped to run the Jones Family Drive-in in Malden for years all while working full-time.

She held many titles throughout her life: daughter, sister, wife, mom, Grandma, Ma Ma Smith, Gma, Great-Grandma, Grandma Janie, Mama J and friend. No matter the title, she loved deeply and cared for people in ways both big and small. In her younger years, Janie sewed clothing for others and could seemingly make anything with a needle and thread. She loved cross-stitching, watching cooking shows, gardening, and tending to her plants. She was an excellent cook and rarely met a recipe she couldn't master. Like her mother before her and her grandmother, she loved antiques, flea markets, and searching for treasures she didn't know she needed until she found them. She was baptized on March 6, 1994, at Shady Grove Baptist Church in St. Francis, Arkansas, by her brother-in-law, Charles Smith. When she was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2022, her faith became increasingly important to her. A survivor and a woman of faith, she faced her illness with courage and a growing trust in God. She knew that time was passing by quickly and that she was blessed. She is survived by her husband, Jim Meadows; her daughters: Kim and Rick Johnson of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Missy and Kerry Harmon of Wappapello, Missouri; Carla Smith of Jackson, Missouri; and her son: Glen Jr. and Crystal Smith of Kennett, Missouri. She is also survived by her brothers, Jim Bedwell and wife, Cindy of North Little Rock, Arkansas; Johnny Bedwell and wife, Barbara of Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Joe Bedwell and wife, Lisa of Jonesboro, Arkansas. She leaves behind her cherished grandchildren: Sara Crawford, Eryn Crawford, Will Johnson, Amy Johnson, Lexie Smith, Jasmine Owens, Amory Smith, Jagger Smith, Misty Meadows, and Damon Bowman; and her great-grandchildren, Millie Crawford, Kai Crawford, Asher Davidson, Vera Dobbs, Case Johnson, and Cam Johnson. She is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who knew her and loved her. She always said that her family was her greatest blessing. She was preceded in death by her parents: James and Virginia Bedwell; her brother: Jerry Bedwell; and her sisters: Jeanette Alstadt, Janice Gott, and Judy Broughton. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Janie's life will be held on Thursday, June 11 at her daughter's home in Jonesboro, AR. Her ashes will be laid to rest at the Piggott Cemetery in Piggott, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kennett #39 Educational Foundation or Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri (AWA) in Poplar Bluff, MO. Janie's family finds comfort in knowing that she is now at peace, reunited with loved ones who have gone before her, and forever in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.