Joan Lassiter Cannon

Joan Lassiter Cannon, lovingly known as “Granny” to all who adored her, 86, of Rydal, Georgia, passed away peacefully in her cottage on February 14, 2026.

A memorial service will take place on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 11 AM at Watson-Mathews Funeral Home in Montezuma, Georgia. Visitation will take place from 10 AM to 11 AM on Friday, February 20, 2026 at Watson-Mathews Funeral Home. The committal service will take place at Ideal City Cemetery directly following the service

Born on January 14, 1940, in Cochran, Joan was the daughter of Joe Lassiter and Mildred Boatright. She was preceded in death by her father, Joe Lassiter; her mother, Mildred Boatright; her stepfather, Buford Boatright; her brother, Charles Lassiter; her first husband, Paul Herman Connelly; her beloved son, Charley Cannon; and her devoted husband of 43 years, Charles Cannon of Montezuma.

Joan began her career at Manhattan’s in Americus, where her kind heart and love for people were evident from the start. Later, she fulfilled her creative spirit by opening her own ceramics shop, crafting beautiful treasures that now sit in the homes of many who cherish her memory. Joan had a gift not only for creating lovely things, but for creating a lovely life. She delighted in shopping trips, nurturing vibrant flowers in her garden, and most of all, gathering her family close.

Family was Joan’s greatest joy and proudest accomplishment. She is survived by her son, Jeff Connelly (Michelle) of Shellman Bluff, GA; her daughter, Sydney Connelly Hughes (Bobby) of Rydal, GA; her son, Jamey Cannon (Angela) of Oglethorpe, GA; her sister, Jan Cayere (Louie) of Pompano Beach, FL; her daughter-in-law, Sherry Cannon of Oglethorpe, GA, and her brother-in-law, Larry Cannon of Ideal, GA.

She was the proud grandmother of nine grandchildren: PJ Hughes (Haley) of Cartersville, GA; Katie Hughes of College Station, TX; Carrie Harris (Jackson) of Madison, AL; Olivia Connelly of Monroe, GA; Danielle Bailey (Dylan) of Oglethorpe, GA; Chas Cannon (Hannah) of Americus, GA; Haley Stewart (Preston) of Ellaville, GA; Kelsi Corbett (Christian) of Cordele, GA; and Aiden Hobbs of Oglethorpe, GA. She was also blessed with many nieces and nephews and eleven great-grandchildren, who were truly the light of her life and brought her immeasurable pride and joy.

Joan will be remembered for her warm heart, her creative hands, her love of beautiful things, and the way she made everyone feel at home. Her legacy lives on in the gardens she planted, the treasures she crafted, and the generations of family who will forever call her Granny.

The family finds comfort knowing that she is reunited with those who went before her and that her love will continue to bloom in the hearts of all who knew her.

To order flowers, please call any flower shop in the area.