JOAN, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN BY MANY AS GJ, PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY DURING THE CALM EARLY MORNING OF JULY 25, 2025, AT AGE 89.

SHE CAME INTO THIS WORLD IN TROY, ALABAMA, TO PARENTS WILLIE G., AND MARY EUNICE BARRON. SHE WAS THE ELDEST OF FOUR CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM HAVE LEFT THE EARTH: CHRISTINE MURPHREE, DAVID BARRON, AND JERRY BARRON.

AFTER HER START IN TROY, SHE ATTEND MARS HILL COLLEGE ON SCHOLARSHIP, EARNED AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE, AND MET BOB. THE REMAINDER OF HER YEARS WERE SPENT MOSTLY IN THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN TOWN OF HENDERSONVILLE, NC, WHERE SHE RAISED HER THREE CHILDREN, MIKE MURPHY (MELANIE), PAT MURPHY, AND PAM MURPHY HELMS (DAVID). SHE AND HER HUSBAND, BILL, MOVED TO STATESVILLE AND THEN TO KERNERSVILLE, NC.

THROUGH HER JOB AND MEMBERSHIP ON NUMEROUS COMMUNITY-BASED BOARDS OF DIRECTORS IN HENDERSONVILLE (UNITED WAY, WESTERN CAROLINA COMMUNITY ACTION, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB) JOAN WAS FOCUSED ON DOING, BUT DID NOT SEEK A SPOTLIGHT. SHE RECEIVED JOY AND SATISFACTION FROM HELPING OTHERS. HER FOCUS WAS ALLEVIATING POVERTY. SHE WROTE THE INITIAL GRANT TO ESTABLISH THE HENDERSON COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING AND HER TALENTS WERE ALSO AN INTEGRAL PART OF ESTABLISHING THE ONLY DAY CARE IN HENDERSON COUNTY FOR MINORITY CHILDREN IN 1970. SHE WAS AWARDED THE COMMUNITY ACTION PIONEER AWARD FOR OVER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH WCCA.

IN ADDITION TO HER CHILDREN, JOAN IS SURVIVED BY A SISTER-IN-LAW, IMEL BARRON; GRANDDAUGHTERS LUCY (JAMES), MICHELA (PHILIP), AND MOLLY. SHE IS ALSO SURVIVED BY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

SERVICES TO CELEBRATE JOAN B. GEOUGE WILL BE HELD AT PIERCE-JEFFERSON FUNERAL HOME, KERNERSVILLE. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS AT 1:30PM, AND HER SERVICE WILL BEGIN AT 2:00PM ON TUESDAY, JULY 29TH, 2025.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION IN JOAN’S MEMORY, SHE WOULD BE SO HAPPY:TRELLIS OF FORSYTH COUNTY101 HOSPICE LANEWINSTON-SALEM, NC 27103