Joan Luckett

Helen Steiner Rice's A Mother's Love poem begins with the line, "A Mother's love is something that no one can explain." Joan Marie Hatton Luckett was the epitome of a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, cousin, and friend. She departed this life on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in New Haven at the age of 88. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Walter E. Luckett, Sr.; her son, Darrell Vance Luckett; and her parents, John Wesley Hatton and Ruby Lee Adams Hatton.
Joan was one of the younger children from a family of four girls and four boys. As a lifelong resident of Bridgeport, CT until her illness, she attended Central High School. She became a young bride to her true love of 50 years, Walter, and remained a loyal and dutiful wife. Her greatest pride and joy were her four sons, whom she loved more than life itself, and whom she raised and fiercely protected throughout her entire existence.
Joan was a member of Bethel AME Church in Bridgeport and participated in several ministries throughout the years. Her grandfather was a minister in Bethel AME Church, and she found herself guided by the principles of the Good Book. She completed her education through a training program offered by Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD) agency. She was employed at the Bridgeport Public Library's Main Branch for several years as a Librarian Assistant where she developed her passion for reading. She later moved to Bridgeport Hospital and St. Vincent's Medical Center where she was employed as a Sterile Processing and Distribution technician (SPD), often called the heart of the hospital. She was a dedicated and faithful employee for many years until her retirement.
To know Joan was to love her. Being born in 1937, she was a part of the Traditional or Silent Generation, hard-working, loyal, and always ready to give the shirt off her back if it could be of help to others. Joan was a great cook and was known for delicious soul food dishes that consisted of fried chicken; macaroni salad and potato salad; collard greens, string beans and cabbage; and black-eyed peas and rice. Her baked ham was second to none, and she cooked expertly and effortlessly for large groups of family and friends. Whether it was a picnic, holiday, or special occasion, she loved to see others enjoy the fruits of her labor. It was who she was - giving and unselfish to a fault. If she had it, it was yours.
Joan was proud of her sons and enjoyed the respect she received as they excelled in sports and in life. She attended their games and was an avid cheerleader for them on and off the basketball court, baseball field, and field of life. She enjoyed watching the news and action-packed old cowboy shows. During the height of the Obama era, she remarked how upon reflection, she could have been interested in pursuing a career in politics.
Joan was a beautiful person inside and out and appreciated the beauty of life. She fought a good battle and ran a good race. We know Joan goes before us to prepare a place with her heavenly father and to be reunited with her true love, her husband Walter, affectionately known as Babe, and her son Darrell. She leaves behind her three sons: Walter (Valita) Luckett of Hamden, Connecticut; Larry Luckett of Chesapeake, Virginia; Norman (Michelle) Luckett of Smyrna, Delaware; grandchildren Lashonda (Anthony) Candelaria, Larry Luckett Jr., Nikolya (Mike Crawley) Luckett, Aisha Luckett, Neville (Morgan) Brown, Ashlie (Justin Smith) Luckett, Melissa (Noah) Luckett-Smallwood, and Raven Luckett; 10 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews; and a host of loving cousins and friends. In addition to her husband, son, and parents, she was predeceased by her siblings Helen (John) Harris, Doris Ivey, Bertha Rivera, Thomas (Beverly) Hatton, Carl Hatton, Marvin Hatton, and Kevin (Deborah) Hatton.