Joanna Wade McDevitt
June 15, 1939 ~ January 6, 2018
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Joanna Wade McDevitt, 78, passed away Saturday, January 6, 2018. Born in Waynesboro, Virginia on June 15, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Robert Joseph Wade, Sr. and Francis Blackwell Wade. She was also preceded in death by her husband, James Vincent McDevitt, Jr.; brother, Robert Joseph Wade, Jr.; niece, Robin Barron; sister-in-law, Margie Streicher; and nephew, Mike West.
She was actively involved in her circle group at Lakeside Baptist Church and volunteered for Lakeside Involved. Mrs. McDevitt was a PE teacher in Virginia Beach, ran an at-home daycare while raising her children in Edison, NJ, and was office manager at Megaforce Temporaries and Action Staffing in Rocky Mount, NC. After retirement, Mrs. McDevitt tutored at Sylvan Learning Center and Winstead and Englewood Elementary schools. She was a graduate of James Madison University.
Mrs. McDevitt leaves behind to cherish her memory, son, Sean McDevitt; and daughters, Leslie Khan and Ashley McDevitt. She is also survived by grandsons, Elijah Bass and Shan Khan; granddaughter, Addison Williams; sister, Susan Wilson; brother, Bill Wade and his wife, Ellen; son-in-law, Nasir Khan; sister-in-law, Kathy Wade; several nieces and nephews; and special friend, Gloria Davis.
A Celebration of Mrs. McDevitt's Life will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Lakeside Baptist Church, 1501 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, with Dr. Jody Wright and Rev. Elizabeth Edwards officiating. Following the service, the family will receive friends in the Sugg Foyer of the Kinchloe Building.
The family will receive friends and relatives on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and other times at the home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lakeside Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 1501 Sunset Ave., Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
Visitation
Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services
1130 N. Winstead Ave.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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Wednesday 1/10, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Service
Lakeside Baptist Church
1501 Sunset Avenue
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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Thursday 1/11, 11:00 am - 12:00 am
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I met Mrs Joanna about 15 years ago the first time I met her I called her mom and this still remains we had a ongoing joke of me being prodigal daughter and I am very thankful she considered me to be one of her own she was a beautiful lady and blessed me with a great gift of my best friend Ashley mcdevitt I’m going to miss our talks we had and very thankful she allowed me to be apart of her wonderful life…
Joanna and I met in 1961 when we both taught at Cox High in Virginia Beach. She was 21 and me 22, both right out of college. We have stayed in touch over all the years. She was one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met and will be missed by so many. Sue and I send our deepest condolences to all of the family and friends. I can picture her walking on those streets of gold and singing with the angels. Joanna, I love you and will always keep you in my heart.
With a very heavy heart I’d like to send my deepest sympathies to this beautiful woman’s family. I have considered Joanna one of the most important people in my life since I first met her some 54 years ago at Frank Cox High School in Virginia Beach Virginia. I was 15 or 16 at the time. We spoke often during her lifetime and during every conversation she shared how proud she was of her family and how much she loved them . Besides the ‘catching up conversation’ we had she routinely inspired me , and I know many others, to be kind, work hard, give your best in everything you do, have time for others, nurture them and embrace everyday as if it was the last one you had . I can only hope that she left this earth without suffering and is now in a more peaceful place. Joanna I know you know and yet I will say it for the record so there is no doubt… you made a huge impact on my character, my desire to succeed, who I became as an adult and how I treat others. Thank you for your time and effort on me and our buddy Bill Dubosky. Finally I am so proud we had our special friendship for all these decades and I will hold you deep in my heart forever. God bless your soul and your Family. PS I just got off the phone with Bill and he echoes the same words , thoughts and prayers!
Thinking of you and your sweet children, and sending many hugs. Love you, girl ! Mitzi, the Madame, sends her prayers too.
Joanna was a delightful person, always smiling and looking on the bright side of things. She will be dearly missed by so many people. Nancy Ellis
This was an amazing woman I met her over 21 years ago and loved her from the moment I met her I knew she was special then I had privilege of meeting her precious daughter Ashley and have been so grateful for her friendship as well as Joanna’s she will be greatly missed by all those who loved her prayers for all her family
i am so sorry to hear about Joanna. she was truly a remarkable woman. we worked together at Action Staffing and she always believed in me and made me feel special. i love you my dear friend, rest in peace. until we meet again i send you my love and hugs
OH! what a good time we had teaching, coaching going to and working events and laughing, laughing, laughing. Cox High School rocked. We learned to do forward rolls on the balance beam in our tennis shoes so we could teach our students. Joanna was an inspiration to many students. She had a talent, and knew how to discipline and love at the same time. I knew something was not right when I did not get that Christmas letter which Kept me up on her family which she loved very much. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and I know Heaven is getting a good laugh as Joanna enters the kingdom of God. Emilie Tilley
Our daughter, Mary, called us to tell us of Johanna’s death. We were so sorry to hear of it. Our sympathies and prayers go out to her family. We were one of their neighbors across from Sunset Park during the years when the children were in their elementary and high school years and now her 3 and my 5 have gone their many ways! Good memories!!!! RIP Johanna!
I was Joanna’s hairstylist for many years until I moved to Florida, she was always such a delight , full of compliments and smiles. I loved talking with her . She truly loved her family. She will definitely be missed . Joanna my friend Rest In Peace. ❤️ Debbie Jackson ❤️
I was so very sorry to hear this news and my heart goes out to her family. Mrs. McDevitt was like a second Mom to me during my high school years. I spent endless hours at her home and she was always welcoming and always smiling. Everyone around her was touched by her warmth and kindness. She was one of the only people I would actively seek out during my visits home to Rocky Mount and to Lakeside. I will miss her and I hope her family can find some peace during this difficult time.
I’m so sorry Ash and family!
So sorry for your loss! She was a great teacher when I had her Cox.❤️
Miss Wade was a PE teacher at Cox high school while I was there from 1962 thru 1965. What a wonderful person she was.
Miss Wade, as I knew her, was a wonderful Physical education teacher at Cox high. I will always remember her kindness and loving personality. It was an honor to have met her. Patty Morris Farino
The circle of life. I’ve known Joanna since 1988. Joanna supplied me my temporary help when I was HR director at Textile Prints. Always with a smile and encouragement we work together closely had lunch together and discussed family together. She had wisdom and compassion that made her very special to me. Now I have been friends with her daughter Ashley for over 10 years. Who’s friendship and kindness I couldn’t do without. I will miss Joanne as well as I know will her children ,family and friends but her spirit will live on through her daughter Ashley’s beautiful ways of life. Rest In Peace my long time Friend. Sue Gibson Pope and Family.
Joanna was a delightful, loving and compassionate woman. She thought the world of my Mom. I imagine that they are sharing a pot of coffee and discussing their loving families right about now. I will miss her. Love, Ginny Cobb
We were so blessed our first year in high school to have a loving, kind, and caring person to start our journey with. There are no words for the love and respect everyone at Cox High School felt for Ms. Wade. She will be in our hearts forever. Heaven has a new Angel. I know she will always be watching over us and with us in spirit.
You taught us discipline with love. You welcomed me into your life after high school as you did many of your students. Times in Edison, NJ with you and Jim were so much fun (I won’t talk about our water issues). We really had some bonding times and it has been a part of my life. Visiting you in Rocky Mt was another special time. You always said what you thought and behind those thoughts were your belief and faith in Jesus our Savior.. So thank you for loving us .
So very sorry for your loss. Many happy memories if time spent with your family and my mom, Suzanne Colitre Nann. God bless
Joanna, you are now one of God’s special Angels. I miss you so very much. We were friends for over 44 years. You always put everyone else first and had the biggest heart. I am finding comfort by reading the lovely book of poems you sent me. I thank God that the last words we said to each other were I love you. Rest in peace my friend. Love forever, Dolores Capabianco
So sorry to hear of Joanna’s passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
My deepest condolences to the family of a wonderful person. She was Miss Wade to me at Cox High School. She had a wonderful encouraging manner that I will always appreciate. Her beautiful spirit will live on through her many students and loving family. s school school