Joan Summers Drummond

BURLINGTON - Joan Summers Drummond passed away January 7, 2017 at the Hospice Home in Burlington. She was 86.

She was married 59 years to James A. Drummond. She was a lifelong resident of Gibsonville. She lived at her current address for 59 years in a house that was built before she was married to James. Joan was a graduate of Gibsonville High School and attended Elon College and graduated in 1952 with a degree in chemistry and biology. She went to work at Richardson Vicks as a chemist in the laboratory with a variety of assignments and managerial positions. In 1985 Proctor and Gamble bought her company. She worked with them for 5 years and then retired.

Joan was a member of Sharon Lutheran Church where she played the organ for many years. She had a senior choir and then directed the junior choir that later sang for their wedding. After retirement, she became very active in many organizations. Joan joined the hospice volunteers 27 years ago. She became a master gardener with the Alamance county extension service. She also was active with Meals on Wheels. She became active in the Honor Society of Elon. Joan was a member of the Elon National Alumni Executive Board. She received the Elon Distinguished Alumni Service Award for her service from 2000 until 2008. She was a member of the Alamance County Women's Democratic Party.

In addition to her husband, of the home, Joan is survived by her brother, James Edwin Summers, Jr. and wife Sue of Richmond, VA; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved dogs, Cody and Kelly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Edwin Summers and Irene Fryer Summers.

A memorial service will be held at Sharon Lutheran Church on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 2:00 PM by Rev. W. Ralph Heller, Jr. The family will receive friends following the memorial service at the church on Sunday.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance – Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or the Humane Society of Alamance County, PO Box 5117, Burlington, NC 27216.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of the Hospice Home, Twin Lakes Retirement Community, and Alamance Regional Medical Center for their care of Joan.

Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com.