Joan Barnett Long, aged 89, passed away peacefully on May, 20th 2025 at BellaRose Nursing & Rehab in Garner, North Carolina.
Joan Frances Barnett, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on March 28th, 1936, to Emily & William Barnett. Joan was the second oldest but only girl growing up with three brothers, William Jr., Jimmy, & Herbie Barnett.
The family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where her father worked at the local mill. Their family lived on Mordecai drive in where Joan attended Hugh Morson High School & went on to graduate as a Nurse from Rex Hospital in 1957.
That same year, Joan married Harold Long Jr. from Raleigh, and they moved into their first home in Wilmington, NC. After the unfortunate death of their first child, Cindy Long, from cancer at the age of two, Joan welcomed her second daughter Sandy Mae in late August of 1961. By 1963 Joan and Harold moved again to the neighborhood of Greenbrier in Garner and had another daughter Patricia Ann. Then in 1970, Joan had her fourth child, her first son, Harold Long III.
While raising her family, Joan also immersed herself in Greenbrier Garden club activities, playing in her neighborhood bridge club, promoting her Christian values in her Sunday school class, and was a celebrated member of the Garner United Methodist church choir.
As her kids became older, Joan went back to her nursing career and began to work part-time at Raleigh’s Orthopedic Clinic. She enjoyed her work along with her co-workers and continued to work at the clinic for over 30 years. She also volunteered her time working at Garner Area Ministries.
At retirement, Harold and Joan took time to travel with trips to Europe, Mexico, Israel, the Nile River in Egypt, and England; along with US trips to California, New Mexico, and Philadelphia.
Joan lovingly welcomed her grandchildren Morgan, Austin, Mason, Sawyer & Madeleine into the family helping them grow through her presence & support at birthdays, graduations, and other important life events. Joan was also delighted to become a great grandmother to Eden, Owen & Hayes. When asked by her daughter what time in her life she most enjoyed, her reply was that “she had enjoyed all of her life, all the different periods, and she had been happy throughout”.
Joan was a loyal wife, a beloved mother, and a friend to many others in the community she created through her good deeds, love, and attendance.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Long, and she is survived by her younger brother Herbie Barnett, her children Sandy Jeffreys, Patty Long, & Hal Long and their families Taylor Jeffreys, Tom & Madeleine Crawford, Sherry, Mason, & Sawyer Long, Morgan Parker, and Austin Baker.
Family and Friends are invited to Garner United Methodist Church, 201 Methodist drive, Garner, NC, on Tuesday, May 27th to reminisce and honor the life of Joan Long. A 12pm visitation precedes a Memorial Service which begins at 1pm
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joan's memory to, Garner Area Ministries, 558 Village Court, Garner, NC 27529.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
12:00 - 12:45 pm (Eastern time)
Garner United Methodist Church
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
1:00 - 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Garner United Methodist Church
Visits: 635
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