Born in Ogden, Utah, Janath Russell was educated at Wellesley College.

Upon their return to Utah in 1974, Cannon became the first counselor to Smith in the general presidency of the church's Relief Society.

Cannon served in this capacity until 1978, when she was released so that she and her husband could become the first missionaries of the church to preach in "black Africa".

In the late 1980s, Cannon and her husband were the directors of the LDS Church's visitors' center in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Cannon died in Bountiful, Utah, and was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.