Joanne Hampton Schanda

Joanne Schanda, of Paragould, left this world to be with her Lord and Savior on November 20, 2025, at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro, at the age of 78.

Joanne is survived by her husband, Royce Schanda; her children, Kymberly Anderson of Hot Springs, Reneilia Hampton (Julie) of Paragould and Nathan Hampton of Paragould; step-children Debbie Lynch (Dan), Tammy Rutland (Ken), Valorie Cowsert (Mark), and Cindi Jackson (Mike); grandchildren, Dalton Gray Hampton, Sydnei Ray Hampton, Savanna Massey, Kylei Anderson, Seth Hampton, Derek Cowsert, Krischanda Moore, Ashley Cowsert, Mattie Cowsert, Travis Lynch, Amy Kemp, Teige Jackson, and a proud great grandma to 29 sweet babies. She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Thora Bracken; first husband, Neilous (Neil) Hampton; son, Anthony Hampton; brothers, Gordon Bracken and James Edward Bracken; sister and best friend, Sharon (Bracken) Klusman.

Joanne Schanda was born February 23, 1947 in St. Louis, MO to Charles and Thora Bracken. Joanne lived in Missouri during her formative years and always spoke fondly of the misadventures she and her sister would get into while growing up in St. Louis. She moved to Paragould in 1970 and met her first husband while working in the Monroe administrative offices. They were married on December 1, 1972 and began their family. During this time, Joanne cultivated her love for flowers, gardening, cooking, and almost any sewing craft she could learn. She also worked as a paraprofessional at Greene County Tech where she loved helping students learn, but knew they were loved and safe. After the loss of her first husband, she was blessed in finding "her Royce." Joanne and Royce Schanda were married on April 14, 1998. They loved to travel with Sharon and her husband and her sister-in-law, Carol, spending time with all their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved directing Royce where to put the flowers in the garden, and he loved doing what she told him to do. They also loved spending time listening to music, reading their bible together, and finding some new technology to bother their children with to fix or set up, or explain how it works. She loved finding ways to "bother" any of their children and having a good laugh. Joanne was never far from a picture or video to proudly show one of her "babies" to anyone who would look or watch.

Besides gardening, Joanne loved sewing, and buying fabric was her favorite part of it all. She could be found hovering over a table, working on a quilt piece, sewing a new quilt, crocheting numerous quilts, or even crocheting animals later in life. Or she loved to show what new fabric she got at the store proudly telling you just how much money she saved, laughing the whole time.

Joanne's biggest project was her commitment to her faith. It guided, strengthened, and served as her foundation. She knew she was called to love, to be kind, and to serve those who needed it. She was what many would call the Proverbs 31 wife. Her heart always chased after God, not only in reading scripture but in acting out that faith in small and large ways. Never asking for anything in return. This also meant instilling in her family to always seek and be guided by God. Knowing her family did this brought her immeasurable peace and happiness.

Joanne was known for her love of family and for her church family. She loved playing board and card games with those she cared about. Joanne also loved telling or playing jokes on others. Her laugh was infectious to anyone who was around. Joanne loved a good puzzle and made a tradition of putting one together during the Christmas season. She really did not like it when family members would hide pieces from her, but the laugh and joy in her eyes always said something different. Joanne loved going to dinner with her husband and their couple of friends, Danny and Debbie. She loved telling where they had all gone and what they did that day or night.

No words can express the loss of Joanne on her family, friends and community.

The family will receive friends and family on Sunday, the 22nd, at 1:30pm until services time at 2:30pm at Phillips Funeral Home, in Paragould, AR.