Glenda Jain: Live by Faith, Grow in Grace, Walk in Love

Glenda Jain lived by faith, grew in grace, and walked in love. Her life was a testament to her strong faith in the Lord, dedicated service to the community, and unwavering love for everyone around her.

Beginnings of Her Life of Faith

Glenda was born on December 3, 1960, and grew up in Brighton, Tennessee. Throughout her upbringing, she had strong role models that instilled the importance of living by faith. Her mother, Joyce Tanner Starnes, and grandmother, Clara Allie Briscoe Tanner, took her to church every Sunday. When Glenda was 12 years old, she was baptized in the Brighton Baptist Church.

At Brighton High School, Glenda was very involved in clubs and loved by her classmates. She was notorious for chatting with her friends in class, and teachers said they could seat her anywhere in the classroom but her infectious laugh and sweet voice still warmed the room. She was a cheerleader, and she enjoyed being with the other girls and going to all the events. Her brother, Michael Gladney, played on the football team and said Glenda’s voice could always be heard above the crowd. As she progressed through school, she was guided by her parents, Joyce Tanner Starnes and Scottie Gladney. Glenda truly grew in grace. She graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1979.

While attending the University of Tennessee at Martin, Glenda met Dave Jain. After several attempts to take her on a date, Dave finally convinced her to give him a chance. Their relationship quickly blossomed, and they were soon inseparable. While dressed as Raggedy Ann and Andy at a premedical society costume party, Dave proposed to Glenda. She never liked being the center of attention, so she was not very happy that he did such a public proposal. After Dave quickly whispered, “Please say yes,” Glenda obliged as the band played their song, Lionel Richie’s “Endless Love.”

Dave and Glenda Jain were married on December 29, 1984, at the church she grew up going to in Brighton. That was the beginning of the family that grew with the births of Nicholas, Lydia, and Jonathan. She raised all three children in the First United Methodist Church of Kennett, and the congregation became family to the Jains.

Dedicated

Community Servant

If there is one thing that Glenda will be remembered for, it will be her willingness to help everyone. Anytime she saw a need, she stepped up to the plate. She cared for so many others because she loved helping the community.

Crafting and creativity were among Glenda’s many strong suits. She loved making crafts with children in Vacation Bible School, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts. One of her favorite crafts to make was Christmas ornaments. The Jain’s Christmas tree is annually decorated with ornaments made in these groups, and each tells a story. Glenda spent many hours ensuring that other children would have these special moments.

Glenda was the costume designer for the theatrical productions at Kennett High School. She spent countless late nights sewing costumes from scratch and altering outfits for the performers. When she watched the performances, she took pride in her costumes; however, her favorite part of the shows was seeing the students excel on the stage in front of the community. While she was the proud mother of Nicholas, Lydia, and Jonathan, Glenda assumed the role of “class mom” every year they were in elementary school. From putting on holiday celebrations to making crafts, she loved each of her children’s classmates like they were her own. At all the class parties and events, she made sure to take photographs. Remembering moments was so important to her, and she took it upon herself to make every student a scrapbook at the end of the school year. She stayed up night after night to make sure each student would receive a personalized scrapbook full of photographs and cherished memories from the year. Glenda cared so much about ensuring everyone was taken care of and loved.

After the movie theater in Kennett closed, Glenda talked frequently about how she wished there was more for the youth to be able to do for entertainment. These talks grew into actions, and Glenda bought and began renovating the theater with one of her closest friends, Jill Mobley. The pair restored the historic building to its former grand appearance, and the Kennett Palace Theater opened in 2014. In between pouring sodas and popping corn, Glenda would talk about how glad she was that the theater was open for the community to enjoy.

One of Glenda’s proudest endeavors was her role with the JOY Ministry at the First United Methodist Church of Kennett. Every Wednesday after school, students would come to play basketball, eat a meal, and hear a faith-based message. Along with the beloved women that served the JOY Ministry with her, she cooked meals for the dozens of students, and she quickly began making impacts in the students’ lives. Glenda found it so rewarding to be able to see the students grow through school and become young adults, with her support throughout it all.

Glenda would probably joke that supporting Dave was a full-time job in itself. Throughout their marriage, she always stood behind him and gave him strength. She even worked as a nurse in Dave’s medical practice a few months before she passed when he needed extra help. The time they shared working together was so appreciated by Dave, and their bond is unbreakable. Glenda was his biggest supporter, and she was never afraid to tell him the way things should be done.

Glenda was so proud of her three children. She had a role in all of their accomplishments and moments in life. From picking out clothes for school dances to creating campaign posters for class elections, she was very involved in their lives. Her advice was always sound, and she seemed to know how to lead them in the right direction. Glenda’s spirit will be carried on in the doings of her children. Nicholas is the Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney, Lydia is a resort activities manager in Orlando, Florida, and Jonathan is a student at the University of Missouri.

In the days since Glenda’s passing, so many people have shared stories of times she helped them. While she helped them all in different ways, each story had the same element of Glenda not wanting any credit. She gave endlessly with no expectation of anything in return. The community was truly bettered by her service, and she made an impact in so many people’s lives.

Unwavering Love

When thinking about all she did for others, it is clear that Glenda’s actions during her life were driven by one thing: love. She helped everyone around her because she was so caring and full of love. Anyone that knew her saw how much she cared for other people and led a life of faith.

She truly became a mother to anyone around her — and that included a stern talking to, when needed. Glenda was the type of strong woman that people admire and aspire to be, and she displayed such resilience throughout her battle with cancer. The community has lost a giant, but her legacy will live on through those who felt her compassion and saw her faith. When Glenda came to Kennett in 1991, she probably did not know the impact she would have on the community. But — in typical Glenda Jain fashion — she has left Kennett better than she found it.