Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Janis Gregg Pressley attended DC Public Schools. She earned a BSSW from Bowie State University and an MSW from Gallaudet University, where she learned to sign at an intermediate level. Before retiring, she worked in Federal and State government, as well as Special Education schools and schools of higher education. After retirement, she worked as an independent consultant. A Matthew 25 Christian, she believes to be your true self, you must be right with God and be doing what you really want to be doing in life. A mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, great aunt, and a great, great aunt, she loves to read, sing in her church choir, travel, watch classic movies, and write devotions. The Upper Room Daily Devotion magazine published two of her devotions and will publish a third one in the July-Aug 2026 issue.