Mrs. Joann James

Joann James was born on November 27, 1958, to the late Van V. Mooney Jr. and Martha L. Mooney in Cincinnati, Ohio. The family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1969, where Joann attended Lincoln High School. She sacrificed her education to help her family but later went back to school and received her GED in 1990.

Joann was a praying woman. She accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and was a member of St. Luke Emmanuel Baptist Church, where she was united in holy matrimony with David James Sr. in 1979. Soon after, they became members of Morning Star U.B.C under the leadership of Moses E. James, where Joann sang in the choir. She later joined Holy Cathedral C.O.G.I.C under the leadership of Bishop C.H. McClelland. She kept the faith until she was called home.

As an entrepreneur, Joann founded Joann's T.L.C. Daycare in 1993 where she loved, cared for, and inspired many children. Outside of running her daycare business, in her spare time, Joann loved to spend time with her family, and she especially loved shopping! She moved to Kissimmee, Florida, in 2013 to be with her parents, sister, and brother, then moved back to Milwaukee in 2020.

Joann was promoted to eternal life on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. She was preceded in death by: her parents, Van Jr. and Martha Mooney; sister, Alma Jean Coleman; sister-in-laws Patricia James and Elaine Strickland, and niece-in-law Sheila "Bee" James.

She is survived by her husband, David James Sr.; sons, David James Jr. (Janine Hill) and Jhamar James (Tierra Woodfaulk); daughter, Toni D. Davis (Robert Davis); grandchildren, Yahanna, Solomon, Jhamar Jr, Jhordan, Israel, Jhada, and Jhailee; brother, Van Mooney (Maggie Mooney), and sister, Vanessa Poole (William Poole). She also has a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends whom she loved deeply.