Joan Childress

Joan, Emily is going to have a baby. You and Jim would be very excited. I still miss you both.

Joan and Jim were like second parents to me as well and she spoke of you so often Mr. Bailey as well as every one of her family members. My mom introduced me to Joan in 1976 when my mother also taught in the JHU nursing program. My mom moved onto other things and the Childress' became very dear to me. I was 19 then and took the bus to my new jog at Johns Hopkins. One day Joan saw me on the corner waiting for the bus and stopped to pick me up. She did that for a bit until she offered to...

Joan and Jim were like second parents to me. When I was at St. John's College in Annapolis, MD I spent many weekends in Baltimore with Joan and Jim working on papers on their computer and drinking their coffee. They always made me feel at home.

Joan and Jim and my family followed each other around the country. My father met Jim when he worked at McDonnell Douglas in Ft. Worth. When Joan and Jim moved to Arkansas we moved nearby to Alabama. Then when they moved to Arlington, Mass...

I will remember this remarkable woman as naturally beautiful, bitingly smart, courageous, adventuresome, independent, loyal, loving, gracious, present, spirited and wise. I can hear her them calling to one another.."Jimmy...Joanie". "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy..." Brisk walks and holding hands. Plaid skirt, knee socks and my near daily homage...a pair of penny loafers. She made an imprint all her own.

When we visited my father (Carl) at Phoebe, Joan was always very engaging. We enjoyed her spunk and those moments of her life that she shared with us. She will be missed.

Joan was quite the 'gal' and she and Jim were just fun to be around-a North and South blend that really mixed! Jim roasted the coffee beans in a frying pan cajun style and and Joan drank the brew. Inspiration!

We loved our Aunt Joan's spirit!

Simply from reading Mrs. Childress' obituary, she sounds like quite the individual. I would have greatly appreciated an opportunity to meet her. May she rest in peace, and her loved ones satisfaction in the person she was and is.