Joanne Marie Brown, age 76, of Hardeeville, SC, passed away at home on Christmas Eve, 2025, more than 2 years after being diagnosed with brain cancer. During that time, she continued to live fully, embracing life, laughter, and the people she loved most, a spirit she hoped those around her would carry forward.

Joanne was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1949 to Winifred and John Hall and moved to Houston, Texas, at the age of two. She was the identical twin sister of Carole Terry and was one of six children to her mother, Winifred.

Joanne attended Deer Park High School in Deer Park, Texas, and graduated in 1968, the first in her family to do so. She later became a flight attendant with Texas International in 1969, having never been on an airplane before. Her flying days sparked a lifelong love of travel and allowed her to spread her wings.

In 1971, Joanne met the love of her life, Harvey, at a party in a singles complex when she asked to use his bathroom, a chance meeting that led to a life built together, spanning nearly 55 years, including more than 52 years of marriage. Together, they shared a love of travel, adventure, and music, forming a partnership rooted in laughter and friendship.

In 1973, Joanne and Harvey Brown, Sr. were married, and she became a caring stepmother to four adolescents, embracing both the challenges and joys of building a blended family. Nearly 10 years later, Joanne and Harvey welcomed their daughter, Diane, completing their family and leading Joanne to become a full-time mom, a role she cherished. Later, she became a grandmother and great-grandmother and was lovingly known by many as “JoJo.”

Even after she stopped flying, Joanne’s love of travel never ceased. She traveled around the country and the world, seeking adventure wherever she went, including skydiving in New Zealand, zip-lining in Costa Rica, horseback riding in Maui, and seeing the volcanoes in Iceland, which topped her list of favorite places to visit. She also became an avid skier and a lover of golf, even achieving the rare feat of a hole-in-one.

Joanne had a passion for helping others, whether working on the mission team at church, volunteering for school and neighborhood functions, walking 60 miles to support breast cancer research, or helping after disasters with her chainsaw — yes, you read that right. She was also known as the life of the party, often dancing until the music ended and the party was over, sometimes leaving behind more than just her shoes.

She was deeply devoted to her family and loved spending time together whenever she could, playing cards, attending games and events, or talking and laughing the night away. Joanne had a way of making people feel welcome, whether they were lifelong friends or someone she had just met, often bringing brownies or other food to new neighbors and even offering them a bed to sleep on if their furniture had not yet arrived. Her vivaciousness, openness, and compassionate spirit will be remembered by all who knew her.

Joanne was preceded in death by her father, John Hall; her mother, Winifred Hall; her brothers, Phillip Hall and John Hall Junior. She is survived by her husband, Harvey Brown, Sr., her daughter, Diane Brown; her step-children, Bryan Brown (Meg), Debra Ellsworth (Mark), Harvey Brown, Jr (Cindy), and Kathleen Brown; Bryan and Meg’s children, Hannah, Lauren, Matthew, Natalie, Shannon (James), and Victoria; Debra and Mark’s children, Chandler (Haley) and Grayson; Harvey and Cindy’s children, Caroline, Emily, and Joshua (Jennifer); her six great grandchildren (Caleb, Emmett, Grace, Hope, Luke, and Shiloh); her sisters, Ann Ashton (Kelley) and Carole Terry (Chester); her brother Preston Hall; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends who she loved dearly.

We wish to thank all the medical professionals who helped care for Joanne during this journey, especially Dr. David Ashley and The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University, her local oncology teams at Memorial Health University Medical Center’s Radiation Oncology Department and Low Country Cancer Care, the therapy team at Enhabit Home Health, and the palliative and hospice care teams at Agape Care Group. Our family also wouldn’t have been able to help Joanne enjoy the time she had without the support and prayers of her family, friends, neighborhood, and church communities. We are forever grateful.

As we gather to remember Joanne and celebrate the life she lived so fully, a Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, February 28th, at Low Country Community Church at 2:00 PM (801 Buckwalter Pkwy, Bluffton, SC 29910). In keeping with Joanne’s joyful spirit and her wish that this be a celebration, guests are encouraged to wear bright colors rather than traditional black attire. For family and friends who are unable to attend in person, the service will be available to view live or later at this link: https://youtube.com/live/JP2qckRuJXc?feature=share. In lieu of flowers, Joanne requested that donations be made in her memory to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University.