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Joann went to Franklin High School, Berry
College and Vanderbilt University. Upon
graduation as a Family Nurse Practitioner, she
accepted a job with the National Health Corps to
help the underserved medical resources in Blue
Ridge and Ellijay, Georgia. She helped
over 3,000 patients with physical problems,
emotional wounds and those that just needed a
listening ear in two short years.
She lived in a beautiful cabin on top of the
Cherry Log Mountain Community next to the
Appalachian Trail. One Sunday afternoon
she met her death and transcended from an
earthly angel to a heavenly angel at age 30.
Joann loved children, animals, best friends, her
family, mountains, hiking trials and waterfalls.
She was a natural healer and teacher; bringing
courage and love to everyone she met. She
was the most beautiful, caring, supportive and
loving friend a mother could have. She
climbed the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming
many times with her mom and repelled the steep,
rocky cliffs with the ease of an eagle.
She had a deep connection with people, nature,
good friends, a loving God and most importantly
with herself and her personal journey. No
challenge was too big. She went to every
measure demanding to make the world a better
place.
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Truth was the foundation of her faith,
courage and love. She never
doubted her journey. Joann felt
very strongly that children should
always have a choice and believed that
healing, power and the truth reside in
nature more than any other place. Once
while taking a walk, she was attacked by
3 large dogs. After coming home
from the emergency room, she said, "Mom,
I sure am glad those dogs got me.
There was a small child in a stroller
further down the road." There was
sign in her office saying, "If you
cannot pay for your services, let me
know. Joann"
Joann died living her dream. The
moment in time when I took this picture,
she had just graduated from Vanderbilt,
purchased her cabin on top of Cherry Log
Mountain and was about to embark on her
physician's career of helping to heal
others every chance she was given.
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Joann's Days at Berry College
Joann had a desire to help others and
focus on learning all there was to know
about caring for the physical container
our soul must use to live here on earth.
At Berry College she helped a teacher
that became a great friend, Dr. Gina
Sharpe, build a Fitness for life center.
She graduated from Berry with all As
except for 1 B. She was so mad at
herself when she got a B in swimming.
But a teacher in our school system that
went to Berry with Joann said she taught
him how to swim. I can only imagine that
she was more concerned for everybody's
safety in the water than how to do the
backstroke.
From that point on...every time I
visited her at Berry College, she took
my blood pressure and about 10 other
readings. You see, she was always
afraid something would happen to me and
I couldn't be there for her....little
did we know!
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