Community mourns death of Danbury Mayor Janet Whitt

In an era otherwise marked by division, Town of Danbury Mayor Janet Whitt will be remembered as a leader who brought people together.

Whitt died July 19 at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. She was 70.

“Words cannot express the extent of the shock wave that her passing has sent throughout, not just our town, but the entire community and county,” said Steve Shelton, Danbury town council member.

“Janet was a very, very special person — one who never knew a stranger and went out of her way to make everyone with whom she came in contact feel special.”

Born in Patrick County, Virginia, and a lifelong resident of Danbury, Whitt was a retired respiratory therapist who also operated Whitt’s Furniture Gallery in King.

She had served as mayor of the Town of Danbury since being elected in 2009. In December 2023, she was sworn in to her eighth consecutive term.

“I knew her only as an acquaintance before her election as mayor, but since then I have come to know her as the heart and soul of our town government,” Shelton said.

“I will miss her terribly and only hope that we as town officials can continue the legacy she leaves behind.”

Whitt was especially passionate about the town’s two annual events: the Stokes Stomp Parade and Christmas in Historic Danbury.

“She took great pride in planning and executing those events, always working, once again, to make people feel special for taking part and being sure others received deserved recognition,” Shelton said.

“Janet put others before herself, and she did that in every aspect of her life,” said Gary East, Danbury mayor pro tem, adding that Whitt was deeply sincere in her care for others.

“People are just so quick with platitudes, saying things they don’t mean,” he said. “But with Janet, you always knew that she meant those things that she said to you.

Danbury Council Member Wendi Spraker also noted how Whitt’s generosity of spirit was not limited to her official role.

“Janet loved to recognize and celebrate others and if it was an occasion for a plaque, she had one made,” Spraker said.

Public officials throughout Stokes County remarked on Whitt’s inclusive spirit.

“She was always kind and nice...words can’t express the way she had such a big heart, that big compassion,” said Walnut Cove Mayor Nellie Brown. “She always would ask me to participate when she had events in her town. She would say, ‘Mayor Brown, come up and ride in the parade with me and Commissioner Keith [Wood].’

“It was just really sweet that she would just ask me to come and participate. It’s her town, but she always wanted me to be a part of it.”

Commenting during the July 22 Board of Commissioners meeting, Chairman Brad Chandler said he hadn’t known Whitt that long but that she made an immediate impression.

“I met her at a meeting when I was just kind of getting into a little bit of the political side of Stokes County, and she approached me and just acted like I’d known her for all my life, and from that day on she always made me feel welcome to Stokes County and to Danbury,” he said. “We didn’t always agree on everything politically but she understood that, and we had more in common than we had any type of differences.

“I’ll just never forget her enthusiasm and her love of Stokes County. It’s just a great honor to have known her,” Chandler said.

The county commissioners recessed their 2 p.m. meeting so they could attend Whitt’s funeral. A Celebration of Life and Resurrection was held at 3 p.m. on July 22 at Danbury Community Church.

East, Brown and City of King Mayor Rick McCraw were among those who spoke at the service.

Looking ahead, East said town leaders will be taking things day by day with a big void to fill.

“I don’t know how we’re going to fill it,” he said. “We follow her example. I don’t know exactly what that looks like...we try to do the very best we can for the town and follow her lead.

“I think the thing we need to take away from this is just what a blessing it was for us to have had the time that we did,” East said. “There are people who go their whole lives and not have a Janet in their life, and that’s really sad.”