Janice Lavonne (Quarterman) Bass

On Monday, September 24, 1951, Janice Lavonne Quarterman Bass was born to Earnest and Earnestine Corbett Quarterman II and raised and nurtured by her loving paternal grandparents, Earnest and Luella Rivers Quarterman Sr., who instilled in her a love for God, herself, and others. 

Janice attended elementary and high school in the Palm Beach County Public School System. Upon graduating high school, she went on to attend Marymount College (Boca Raton, FL) and Florida Memorial University (Miami, FL), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a professional certification in Substance Abuse Counseling. Janice was an avid community leader and became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. during her undergraduate years and was among the first group of nationally recruited graduates to work in one of Florida’s first drug rehabilitation programs in 1975.

Janice met and dated the love of her life, Willie Bass Sr., a fellow schoolmate, while attending college. In 1979, they married in Miami, FL and were blessed with three children: Willie Jr., Edward, and Brittney. After living and working in Florida for several years, Willie and Janice moved their family to New Jersey where she began a career in social work with the state of New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services. They eventually moved to her husband’s hometown of Birmingham, AL, where she became a substitute teacher, homestay parent, tutor, seamstress, event organizer, and camp/after school counselor.  

In addition to being a dedicated wife and mother, Janice continued to pursue a professional career in various positions including: career counselor and GED instructor at the Alabama Career Center; therapeutic counselor at Olivia’s House, Pathways, Alabama Therapeutic Education Facility, and The Lovelady Center; and instructor of Fashion Merchandising at Lawson State Community College. She was also an active participant in the community where she served as president of the Ensley Highland Neighborhood Association and worked tirelessly for the improvement of the community.

Her grandparents taught her to revere God and followed in their footsteps, becoming a member of the Roanoke Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, FL. Upon moving to Birmingham, Janice united with the Holy Trinity World Outreach Church under the guidance of Pastor Eric Harris. She later united with her husband at St. John Baptist Church of Pratt City, where she served as a youth director, a member of the M.V. Spearman Church School Class and the Senior Mission.

Preceded in death by her parents, brother, sister, and grandparents, she leaves to cherish her memory: husband, Willie C. Bass Sr. of Birmingham, AL; sons, Willie C. Bass Jr. (Adina) of Rockville Centre, NY and Edward C. Bass of Birmingham, AL; daughter, Brittney R. Bass-Gray (Brandon) of Calera, AL; grandchildren, Isaac Keenan Johnson and Nadia Lyn Bass of Rockville Centre, NY; sister, Brenda Quarterman-Weathersbee of Riviera Beach, FL; niece, NaFeecah Quarterman-Williams (Torrance) of Riviera Beach, FL; nephews, Tyrone Higgins (Alicia) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Patrick Sanders of West Palm Beach, FL; Stepmother, Fayloretta Quarterman of West Palm Beach, FL; mother-in-law, Viola Bass Parance; sister-in-law, Ida R. Cook (Raymond); aunt, Odessa R. Ashley (Alexander) all of Birmingham, AL; the Sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and a host of cherished family and friends.   

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