Janis was born on April 15, 1951, to Rebecca Pennington and William Thomas Pennington.  Her love of life and family expanded from Akron, Ohio; Lexington, Kentucky; Chicago Heights, Illinois, and Anaheim, California.

Janis was an Educator for over 40 years, most of those years were spent within the Cleveland Metro School System.  However, Her tenure as an educator began within the Los Angeles Unified School District teaching 2nd grade and mentoring many of the newly hired staff members while maintaining her own classroom from 1979 to 1989.

Her last teaching assignment prior to her retirement in 2019 was at the Almira Academy, teaching 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade students from 1989 to 2019.  After her retirement, Janis mentored the Junior staff members of Almira Academy.  She also was a member of the AARP Tutors.

Janis had a broad level of Education.  She received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the San Jose State University in California.  She also received her Master of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco in California.  Janis traveled extensively to various countries to enhance her teaching experience which included Madrid, Spain where she learned Castilian Spanish for better communication with her Bilingual students.  Janis studied at the University of Pitier in La Rochelle, France. Janis' accolades also included her being featured in an edition of the Who's Who Publication.

Janis was a dedicated and proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated having been initiated with the Epsilon Omicron Chapter, San Jose State University, in California.

Janis was a faithful Member of the Arlington Church of God attending weekly services until her health began to decline.

Janis was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Rebecca, and daughter Janelle Janice Harris.  She is survived by her daughter, Janae Pennington, more like a "brother than cousin", Roland Pennington, very special friends Frances Parrish-Anderson, Darlene Johnson, Alfrieda Hamby, Peggy Cox, Janet Parrish, Helen Shy, Hilda Hudson, Godchildren David Hamilton II and Kiara Johnson, many other cousins, beloved family, and friends.