Janice Pipes Priest

Janice Pipes Priest, age 90, of Asheville, NC, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 2, 2026. She shared 63 years of marriage with her devoted husband, Dr. David C. Priest, who adored her deeply until his passing in 2021.

A sixth-generation native of the Leicester community in Buncombe County, Janice came from deep Appalachian roots and remained closely connected to the mountains of Western North Carolina throughout her life. She graduated from West Buncombe High School in 1953 before earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a proud Tar Heel and member of Kappa Epsilon. At a time when few women pursued professional careers in science, Janice built a distinguished 40-year career as a pharmacist, working in Charleston, WV and Charlotte, NC before retiring from Richmond Memorial Hospital in Virginia. Following retirement, she and David returned home to Asheville to care for her mother and spend their later years in the mountains she always loved.

Janice was a true go-getter with an energetic spirit and steadfast nature. She believed in getting things done and rarely slowed down once she set her mind to something. That drive became one of the defining traits behind the life she created and the example she set for her family.

Janice was an active member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Red Hat Society, and volunteered through the ministry outreach program at the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women.

David and Janice traveled extensively during their 63 years together and hosted an annual family beach trip to Ocean Isle, NC for more than 25 years. Janice loved to travel and was always excited by new places, new experiences, and opportunities to explore. She especially loved observing wildlife throughout her travels and had a special fondness for ducks and loons. Animals held a special place in Janice’s heart, and she loved and cared for her pets deeply throughout her life. She enjoyed water skiing and tennis, and in her younger years participated in basketball, synchronized swimming, and theater. She had an appreciation for beauty, enjoyed shopping and dressing nicely, and always liked to look her best. She carried a refined and worldly spirit that quietly widened the lives of those around her.

Through the life she lived, Janice encouraged her children and grandchildren to try new things, travel, and experience life more fully. She believed in staying active and involved, took a genuine interest in the passions and pursuits of the people she loved, and was always there to support and cheer them on. Her influence can still be seen in the curiosity, independence, and adventurous spirit she quietly passed down through generations of her family.

In her later years, few things brought Janice more joy than her great-grandsons. She adored them completely and took great delight in their personalities, stories, and everyday adventures. Seeing her as “Nana” to a new generation was a special gift and one of the sweetest chapters of her life.

She is survived by her children, Beth (Rick) Dudley of Ruther Glen, VA; Bill (Debbie) Priest of Plano, TX; and Mark Priest of Floyd, VA; grandchildren, Stephanie (Phillip) West of Asheville, NC; Ellis (Jennifer) Dudley of Warrenton, VA; Abbie (Tyler) Hutchins of Charlottesville, VA; Katie Priest of Floyd, VA; Ashley Priest of Plano, TX; and Ryan Priest of Plano, TX; and great-grandchildren, Henry and Ben West of Asheville, NC. She was also preceded in death by her loving parents, Gladys and James Lewis Pipes.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to her dedicated caregivers, Jennifer, Cherryann, and Cristina, whose compassion, devotion, and kindness brought comfort and dignity to her final years.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2026, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located at 219 Chunns Cove Road, Asheville, NC 28805. A luncheon is to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church or FurEver Friends of Asheville Animal Rescue.

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