Janice Kay Givens

A Home Going Celebration for Janice Kay Givens, 73, of Chickasha, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at the Shepherd Street Christian Church with Pastor Milton Bowens, Jr. officiating.

Janice Kay (Nelson) Givens was born December 28, 1951 in Clinton, Oklahoma to Marion Nelson and Luciel Alberta (Brown) Nelson. She passed from this life on Sunday, May 11, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Janice grew up in Chickasha and attended Chickasha schools. She started her family early then earned her alternative education. As she raised her family, she worked as a CNA at Grace Living Center and later at Chickasha Laundry and Drycleaners.

On March 25, 1977, she married Emmeral “Tom” Givens in Chickasha. They shared 40 years together until his passing in April 2017.

Janice was a comedian, for sure. She was hardworking and enjoyed keeping a clean house and was known for cooking her homemade dishes, especially her peach cobbler. She was outspoken but with a gentle heart. She loved her family and had a nickname for everyone. She enjoyed cards and dominoes and was a Bid Wiz champ at the Givens Family Reunion.

She was preceded in death by both parents; her husband Tom; her sons Desmond Nelson, Robert Taylor and Bobby Thompson; sisters Margaret Woods and Debra Nelson; brothers Phillip Nelson and Dale Nelson.

Loved ones left to celebrate Janice are her children Bruce Nelson (Nikki) of Marysville, California, Marion Nelson of Dallas, Texas, , Terry Anderson of Edmond, Deon Nelson of Lexington, and Alisha Givens of Elgin; brothers and sisters, Mary Nelson-Rogers of Sacramento, California, Marian Maloney, Ethel Richardson, Christine Nelson, William Burdex, and Kitty M. Nelson, all of Chickasha, Tyron Nelson-Davis (Thurman), Marion Nelson, Jr., Detra Nelson-Davis, all of Oklahoma City; 23 grandchildren Bruce Jr., Skylar, Rebecca, Compton, Breona, Shanteona, Azariona, Alydiona, Journey, Legend, Dennis, Alisa, Victoria, Valdez, Anthony, Terry Jr., Tequiem, Desmond, Raymya, Taya, Vannesa, Phillip, and Tre; 14 great-grandchildren Aliyah, Ellie, Kassper, Aliyah “Nae Nae”, Jariah, Jadé, Micah, Micaiah, Matthew, Emonie, Braxton, Trayton, Tania, and Taelyn; special brother-in-law Claude Givens of Long Beach, California; many nephews and nieces and other extended family and friends.

Public visitation will be from Noon until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23rd at Ferguson Funeral Home.

Interment will be in Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.