Tony Andrew Janney

Tony Andrew Janney, 68, of Pilot, passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2025. He was born on May 20, 1957, and raised on the family farm in Pilot, VA. As a youngster, Tony was sometimes rambunctious. There are stories of him dipping his arms up to the elbows in paint, and one notable day when he cut a hole in his sister’s homemade dress hours before she was to wear it. The family jokes that his mother helped him survive that day.

Tony was a gentle person with a big heart who loved nature, animals, and people. He spent his entire life living on and caring for the family farm, where he especially loved his dogs and taking care of his donkeys. He was always checking in on others—he often called friends and family, and would regularly ride his golf cart to check on neighbors. Over the years, he worked for AT&T, delivered the Roanoke Times for many years, and worked at Volvo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Jackson and Estelle Lawrence Janney. Tony is survived by his loving sister, Phyllis Janney Sowder; niece, Tameka Sowder Pritt (Wes); great-nephew, Gracin Pritt; and many other loving family members, friends, and neighbors.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Havens Chapel United Methodist Church in Check, with Rodney Collins officiating. Interment will follow in Restvale Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Gardner Funeral Home in Floyd. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Havens Chapel United Methodist Church Attention: Annette King 125 Boothe Creek Road SE Copper Hill, VA 24079.