Joan Morgan Johnson

Joan Morgan Johnson, 66, of Hagerstown, MD, passed away, Sunday, July 3, 2022, at Doey's House after a long battle with cancer.

Born October 23, 1955 in Englewood, NJ, she was the daughter of the late David Morgan and the late Jean (Lawrence) Morgan.

Joan graduated from Boyertown High School in Boyertown, PA in 1973. She later attended West Chester University and then graduated from Towson State University with her B.A. in 1977. After graduation, she worked as an editor for the Parkville Reporter and Belair Road Booster in Baltimore, MD. She then went on to receive her master's degree in English from Shippensburg University in 1994, and started her teaching career as an adjunct English professor at Hagerstown Community College (HCC) in 1994, later becoming a full time professor in 1999. From 2006 to 2012, she served as the Division Chair for the English and Humanities Division. During her academic career, Joan also co-chaired two state writing committees and was named HCC Distinguished Faculty of the Year in 2018. She was named Emeritus Professor in 2018 following her retirement that year.

Joan was a voracious reader and writer, as well as an avid promoter of the arts and served on the Washington County Arts Council for many years. She was a devoted teacher and took great satisfaction from her work, especially the camaraderie she found with her HCC colleagues. Committed to teaching the humanities in a way that broke down barriers, she encouraged her students to expand their horizons through critical thinking. She adored her 6 grandchildren, and could frequently be found playing laser tag from the living room couch with them on a Saturday afternoon or sharing with them her unabashed fondness for the video game Zelda.


She is survived by her husband of 41 years, James David Johnson, Jr.; her children, Christopher Johnson (Anne) of Baltimore, MD, Anne Johnson (Krystian Dudzinski) of Halifax, NS, Canada and Catherine Leigh Johnson (Rick Stoddard) of Silver Spring, MD; and six grandchildren: Josephine Stoddard, James Stoddard, Jack Stoddard, Mia Dudzinski, Zoe Dudzinski, and Owen Johnson. She is also survived by five siblings, as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews, extended family, and many close friends. She was preceded in death by one sister.

Memorial services will be held Friday, July 22, 2022, at 11:30 am, at the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home, 1331 Eastern Blvd. North Hagerstown, MD. Family will receive friends at the funeral home before the service on Friday, July 22, 2022 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

An informal reception celebrating her life will follow on Saturday, July 23, 2022.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the HCC Foundation, 11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21742 or Hospice of Washington County 1710 Underpass Way, Suite 300, Hagerstown, MD 21740.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.douglasfiery.com www.douglasfiery.com/>