Joan Henderson Jackson, aged 91, passed away on June 22, 2024, in Atlanta, GA. Born on September 22, 1932, in Kernersville, NC, she was a vibrant and colorful individual, much like the art she loved to teach.

Joan dedicated 33 years of her life to educating young minds as an art teacher at Joan of Arc Jr. High School in New York City. Her passion for art and teaching touched many lives, inspiring her students to see the world in vivid colors and broad strokes.

She attended Slater High School in Bristol, TN and went on to graduate from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, where she further developed her skills and passion for art. While at Morgan State she pledged to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was crowned Miss Morgan in 1953 – a pageant tradition that continues to this day. She later went on to get a Masters degree from the City College of New York.

Her passion for gardening and her green thumb were evident in the flourishing plants that surrounded her home. She also found great joy in sewing, a family tradition passed down from her mother Vivian Henderson.

She is survived by her loving partner of the last 25 years, Ray Neal, with whom she shared her life and nourished a home. Joan is mourned by her son Eric, from her former marriage to Waverly Jackson. She is also survived by nephews Roger Delaney of Atlanta and Trevor Delaney of West Orange, NJ.

A middle child, she was preceded in death by her sisters Katie Henderson and Dawn Henderson Delaney.

Joan's life and legacy will be remembered for the joy and creativity she brought into the world.