Janice McCafferty McWilliams, 87, of Warm Springs, Va., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Fort Myers, Fla., after a long and courageous battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Janice was born Aug. 28, 1931, in Butler, to Herbert H. and Isabel Byers McCafferty.

She graduated from Butler High School and then went on to earn a BSN degree in 1953 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

Janice began her career in nursing as an RN at Presbyterian Hospital of Pittsburgh, now UPMC Presbyterian, and served as a faculty member of Presbyterian Hospital of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

On Oct. 13, 1956, Janice married John “Jack” Wright McWilliams of Pittsburgh at her parent's home in Butler.

In 1958, the couple moved to Peru, Vt., where they bought and operated the Bromley House, an inn and restaurant, and raised their three children, Beth, Bruce and Jane.

Janice also worked as a public health nurse for Planned Parenthood in Chester, Vt., and served as a member of the Vermont State Board of Planned Parenthood. She was appointed to the Vermont Governor's Committee of School Health Education and served on the local Peru, Vt., school board.

In 1981, Janice and Jack purchased the Inn at Gristmill Square and moved to Warm Springs, Va. After Jack's death in 1985, Janice and her son, Bruce, continued the operation of Gristmill Square until they sold the business in 2011.

During her 37 years in Bath County, Va., Janice was a very active community volunteer. She was appointed to the board of the Bath County Department of Social Services and she served as a former president of the Bath County Chamber of Commerce. She was past president and longtime member of the Warm Springs Valley Garden Club and served as board member and past president of Bath County Arts Association board, and she also served on the boards of the Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic, Garth Newel Music Center and as a founding board member of Preservation Bath.

In addition to her many years of community service, Janice also enjoyed many hobbies. As an avid reader, she belonged to several local book clubs. She loved to garden and was often seen planting flowers around Bath County. She was an enthusiastic kayaker and she enjoyed classical music, especially Garth Newel Music Center.

She will always be remembered by her friends and family for her generosity, kindness, sense of humor and lightning-fast wit.

Janice is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bruce W. McWilliams and Sarah Hagen McWilliams of Millboro, Va.; her daughters, Elizabeth “Beth” B. McWilliams of Fort Myers, Fla., and Jane L. McWilliams of Fort Myers, Fla.; and her grandson, Derek L. Williams of Columbus, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, H. Donn McCafferty; and her husband, John “Jack” W. McWilliams.

MCWILLIAMS — In accordance with her wishes, a reception celebrating the life and memory of Janice M. McWilliams, who died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Garth Newel Music Center, Herter Hall, Warm Springs, Va.Friends and family are invited to enjoy light refreshment and raise a glass to a remarkable person and a life well lived. We ask friends to make every effort to car-pool as parking is limited.In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Janice's memory with a gift may send memorial donations to Garth Newel Music Center, P.O. Box 240, Warm Springs, Va., 24484.