Janet W. Parr, the ninth child of Albert and Madeline Wood, was born September 29, 1930 at 1711 Baker Street and delivered into the arms of her mother by a midwife. She departed this life on October 25, 2017.

Janet grew up being a precocious and curious child (having a knack for cooking, at a young age, just like her mother. At times, it could be quite baffling to her sisters and brothers because they would wonder how their mother fixed certain things when she may have been visiting her sisters in New York. Janet had quite a laugh when this happened.) This precociousness and curiosity is what helped Janet to excel in school. She attended Booker T. Washington Junior High School and Douglass Senior High School, where she met and married her first husband, Hugh Price Hughes, Jr.(deceased). From their union, a daughter was born, Janet M. Hughes, who the family affectionately called, "Wiggie," because she just couldn't keep still as a baby. After the birth of her daughter, Janet knew that she wanted more and she decided that she would attend Coppin State Teachers College (now Coppin University). After graduating from Coppin, Janet's first school assignment was Cherry Hill Elementary School #159. At this time, Janet also divorced her first husband. Soon Janet excelled in her field and became a Senior Teacher and excelling even more where she was selected from a small group of teachers to attend Temple University. While attending Temple, Janet met a lifelong friend in Helen Beverly. Prior to this, Janet met and married her second husband, Ronald Addison (deceased) ,and acquiring a stepson, Alan Collins (deceased). They were married for 15 years before divorcing. While attending one of her Douglass class reunions, Janet met her third husband, Thomas Parr.

Janet retired from the Baltimore City School System when she married Thomas Parr and moved to Merced, California. Janet acquired her "California family" of a daughter, Cheryl and two sons, Rodney and Russ. As the years progressed, Janet also became "Grandma Jan" because her family soon married and had their own children. While in California, Janet received a Master's degree and soon began to work with the California School System. She became Director of Bilingual Education for Merced County, where she traveled extensively. She even came back to Baltimore several times to read proposals for the Maryland State Department of Education. Janet's third marriage to Thomas Parr ended in divorce; however, she never lost touch with her "California children," whom she loved as if they were her natural children and grandchildren. Soon, it was time to retire from the California School System and Janet returned home to Baltimore in 1990.

When returning home, Janet soon found employment, working as a facilitator alongside her sister, Kay W. Johnson and friend, Yolanda Proctor, giving information pertaining to the Independence Cards. After leaving that program, Janet went back to her first love, teaching. Janet was a substitute teacher for Baltimore City Schools for 3 years. She also began tutoring her cousin, that teacher in her stay with her all of her life. For enjoyment, Janet looked forward to club meeting with her childhood friends, Mildred Parrot, Yolanda Proctor, Maxine Gaskins, Peggy Murphy (deceased), Priscilla Marshall, Lois Washington, Shirley Jones, Catherine Fitt, Ruth and Mary McKnight Taylor, PhD. She loved playing pinochle and other card games with them. Janet also loved going on various trips with her girlfriends, eating out and doing different things.

Janet loved inviting family and friends to her house for luncheons and holiday dinners. She loved preparing meals for family breakfasts (her specialty was sausage and tomato gravy, eggs and homemade biscuits) as well. Janet loved to visit family members' homes for luncheons, going out to lunch at restaurants or going for long rides in the "country" (as she would put it). Janet was a very giving, supportive, thoughtful, loving and kind person. She had no problem giving of herself or of anything that anyone would need. If she could help, she would be "Johnny on the spot!"

In later years, Janet developed Alzheimer's dementia. For a while she was still as vibrant and as sassy as ever. Janet was still that teacher of grammar and pronunciation with her one on one aide as well as other aides from time to time. She never lost that knack for educating people! However, as time progressed so did this debilitating season. She fought a great battle and tried to be as independent as only Janet could be. Unfortunately, the disease took over in the last few weeks of Janet's life. Before Janet departed this life, Father was there to give her communion and her last rites. She died peacefully at the Villa of Campfield, the assisted living facility where she resided, with Alicia Briggs, one of the aides, by her side.

Janet's sisters and brothers who preceded her in death are: Lorraine Wood,Geraldine Banks, Kay W. Johnson, Marie D. Wood, Joan W. Ralph, Vernon A. Wood, George T. Wood and Robert O. Wood. Leaving to mourn Janet are her devoted daughter, Janet M. Hughes; her "California family," Russ W. Darnell and Rodney Parr; her "California daughter," Cheryl Parr, preceded her in death; her brothers, Dr. Ronald Wood, sister -in-law, Sandra Wood and Grillette A. Wood; a sister, Romaine Ball and brother-in-law, George H. Ball. Janet leaves her California "grandchildren", a hosts of cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and dear dear friends.