Minor Characters
Johnny Taylor
Johnny Taylor is the first person to kiss and be kissed by Janie at the age of sixteen, following her moment of sexual awakening under the pear tree. Having inadvertently witnessed her granddaughter's first kiss, Nanny immediately arranges for Janie to marry the older and wealthy farmer Logan Killicks.
Mr. and Mrs. Washburn
After Nanny is freed from slavery, she moves in with the white couple Mr. and Mrs. Washburn and works for them as an employee. Janie spends many of her childhood years living with Nanny in a small house in the Washburns' backyard, growing up alongside their children.
Lee Coker and Amos Hicks
Coker and Hicks are the pair of townspeople Jody and Janie encounter immediately upon arriving in Eatonville. Both men attempt unsuccessfully to seduce Janie, foreshadowing Jody's controlling behavior over his wife's self-expression due to feeling threatened by how many men desire Janie in the town.
Tony Taylor
Tony Taylor is the town assembly leader in Eatonville, until Jody comes along and usurps his power. After Jody takes over the town meeting, he enlists Tony Taylor as one of the two carpenters (along with Lee Coker) of the store he plans to build and run in Eatonville.
Matt Bonner
Matt Bonner is the owner of the sad looking mule that is initially the brunt of the townspeople's jokes. However, after Janie sympathizes with the victimized mule, Jody purchases it and Matt Bonner's mule becomes Eatonville's effective mascot.
Mr. Turner
Mr. Turner is Mrs. Turner's sad looking husband, described as having a "lungless laugh." Mr. Turner appears stripped of all his power and energy by his controlling and demanding wife.
Nunkie
Nunkie is the young, chunky girl who works alongside Janie and Tea Cake on the fields in the muck. One day, Janie finds Tea Cake and Nunkie playfully wrestling on the ground, and Janie aggressively separates them and berates Tea Cake for his apparent infidelity.
Dick Sterrett, Coodemay, Stew Beef, Sop-de-Bottom, Bootyny
Laborers who live and work in the muck. Sop-de-Bottom in particular voices good-natured jealousy of Tea Cake's power over Janie. All of these men are present at the fight at Mrs. Turner's restaurant, Dick Sterret and Coodemay being the most raucous members of the bunch.
Motor Boat
Motor Boat is a friend of Tea Cake and Janie's and fellow laborer in the muck. He remains with Tea Cake and Janie at their home during the hurricane, and the three of them eventually attempt to escape the rising waters of the hurricane together.
Pearl Stone
A woman from the town who seems to resent Janie.