Around the downtown Atlanta accounting firm of Porter Keadle Moore LLP, Janet Sammons was known respectfully as E.F. Hutton, said a PKM partner, Debbie Sessions of Dunwoody.
Because, she said, to paraphrase the familiar old commercial, when Janet Sammons talked, people listened.
Ms. Sammons was an expert on tax matters, especially those related to banks. After doing graduate work in banking studies at the University of Louisville, she had worked 11 years for the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet, which administers tax law in that state. Then in 1985 Ms. Sammons, a Barnesville native, moved back to Georgia, working for two Atlanta banks, Wachovia and SunTrust, the latter as a vice president. In 1998 she joined PKM as director of tax services.
"Janet brought a wealth of experience to our firm," said Tim Keadle, a PKM partner. "In dealing with our clients, she also exemplified the personal touch for which our firm strives."
Pat Tuley of Johns Creek, another PKM partner, said she was an invaluable member of the tax group, well organized and good at mentoring the staff. "Our clients also adored her," he added. "For one thing, she always returned their phone calls."
Rob Schwartzmann of Atlanta, another PKM partner, considered her an ace problem-solver. "Clients might come to us full of emotion over a tax problem," he said, "and she would cut to the crux of it, offering reassurance and telling them, ‘Here's how we can make the best of this.'"
Two years ago PKM sponsored a competition among its staff to perform a feat that hadn't accomplished before. Margaret Cannon of Atlanta, a part-time employee, decided to hike the Georgia portion of the Appalachian Trail, and Ms. Sammons asked if she could join her.
"Over the course of several weekends, Janet and I walked the entire Georgia route, including one day when we had to make our way through six inches of snow. As it turned out, the two of us won the office competition and split a $5,000 prize," Ms. Cannon said.
Janet Patricia Sammons, 58, of Lilburn died April 8 of heart failure at Emory University Hospital Midtown. Her memorial service is 3 p.m. Sunday at Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church, Tucker. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that contributions be made to the church or to Creative Community Services Inc, 4487 Park Drive, Suite A, Norcross 30093. Metro Embalming and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Two years ago Ms. Sammons became heavily involved with Creative Community Services, an organization that provides therapeutic foster-care services for children and home-based support for adults with developmental disabilities.
"Janet was passionate about the kids and the adults we serve," said Sally Buchanan, the group's founder and CEO of Gainesville. "She joined our board, was elected treasurer and encouraged some major Atlanta companies to help us in fund-raising."
The Rev. Morgan Hey of Tucker, associate pastor at St. Andrews, called Ms. Sammons "one of our church's saints. She served the church with energy, imagination and love as an elder, as a Sunday School teacher and on countless committees. She was instrumental in the capital campaign that allowed us to add on new youth space, remodel the sanctuary and build a new narthex."
Ms. Sammons, who never married, owned a convertible, a Chrysler Sebring, and on every New Year's Day, to mark the occasion, she made it her habit to put her car's top down -- unless it was raining or snowing.
Saint Andrews' senior pastor, the Rev. Dave Kivett of Lilburn, himself a convertible owner, said he plans to ask people at her memorial service today to follow Ms. Sammons' example next Jan. 1 if they have a convertible and, if they don't, to do something else "defiantly playful," as he called it, in her memory.
"Janet worked hard at her office and at our church, but she always did it in a playful way," he said. "There was nothing deadly serious about her."
Survivors include a sister, Billie Ann Barefield of Waynesboro, and a brother, John Q. "Red" Sammons III of Barnesville.
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