Joann Tisdale McGahey

January 6, 1940 – February 5, 2025

Martha Joann Tisdale McGahey passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. 

She was 85 years old. Joann was preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow and Addie Pearl Tisdale and sisters, Betty Jo Long and Lavonne Askew. 

She is survived by her husband, Johnny McGahey, daughters Vicki McCray (Kent) and Janet Stegall (Frank), grandchildren Olivia Helms (Josh), Hunter Stegall (Kiara), Seth McCray (Candis) and Grayson Stegall, as well as great-grandchildren Eli, Caleb, Micah, Leah, Levi Helms, Sage McCray, and Makenzie Smith; a sister Sandra Leonard; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Joann was born in Opelika, Alabama and attended school in Auburn. She married Johnny on April 18, 1959, and they were blessed with 65 years together. They had two girls, Vicki and Janet, and made their home in the Stewart community. Joann was a devoted wife, a beloved mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend. She was an avid reader with an extensive vocabulary, and could always be found with a book, a crossword puzzle, or a legal pad and pen in her hand. She and Johnny served together as youth leaders, foster parents, and sang for many years in a gospel quartet, “The Rhythm Masters.” Her career was spent working with the Hale County Board of Education, first as a teacher’s aide at Akron High School, and later as a clerk in the payroll/ bookkeeping department. She discovered her love and skill of working with finances and numbers, and found great pleasure in “balancing to the penny”! Her talents in this area continued after retirement as she became the treasurer at Stewart Methodist Church, where she was a long-time and faithful member in many and various leadership and outreach capacities in the church, community, and beyond. She loved her church and church family and meticulously organized and looked after all the details of church planning until her health no longer allowed her to do so. After which, she mentored and passed the baton of her faith and knowledge to others. She served the Lord well by using her time and talents to serve others. 

The funeral service will be held at Stewart Methodist Church on Monday, February 10th, 2025. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by the service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will take place immediately after at Concord Cemetery. Brother Michael Cobb will be officiating. 

Pallbearers will be Jeffrey Clary, Curtis Gvillo, Josh Helms, Tommy Martin, Seth McCray, Grayson Stegall, and Hunter Stegall. 

 Honorary pallbearers are Andrea Stringfellow (Moundville Primary Care Associates), Doctors and Staff at DCH Manderson Cancer Center, and Hospice of West Alabama. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stewart Methodist Church or Hospice of West Alabama.