Joanna Banks Sechler

MATTHEWS - Joanna Banks Sechler, age 84, of Matthews, NC, passed away February 16, 2023. She was a daughter of the late Posey Banks and Lily Webb Banks, and was preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, William R. Sechler, Jr.; her brothers, Blaine Banks, Early Banks, Tommy Banks and Chester Banks, and her sisters, Cosby Horton, Oleta Kieffer, Rubye Webb, Arlene Meredith and Hazel Fariss.

Joanna is survived by her son, Joseph William Sechler (Nancy) of Matthews, NC, and her daughter, Katherine Sechler Stephenson of Charlotte, NC; her four grandchildren, Jacob, Benjamin, Laurel, and Hazel; her sister, Mary Alice Dalton of Virginia Beach, VA; her sister-in-law, Lorna Banks of Leeds, AL; her brother-in-law, Jack Sechler (Pam), of Cornwall, England, as well as countless and much loved nieces and nephews.

Following her childhood on the farm, Joanna began a career as a dental assistant in Hillsville, VA. After marrying Bill, a career naval officer, she shifted to full time homemaker and mother, a job she took very seriously and with much enthusiasm. Family was everything to her, even when separated by the miles, stationed in Maryland, California, Washington, and Minnesota. When their time with the Navy concluded, Joanna and Bill relocated to Tallahassee, Florida. There, Joanna helped her children through school and into adulthood. She was an avid reader, baker, and card player. Later in life, Joanna and Bill moved to North Carolina for a well deserved retirement and to be closer to their grandchildren. For much of that time though, Joanna was Bill’s dedicated and loving caregiver during his prolonged illness. More recently, Joanna enjoyed living close to her children and their families. Family dinners, playing games together, recounting her life growing up on a mountain farm to her grandchildren, and teaching them about the old times was a passion for her. Joanna passed away peacefully at Hospice, accompanied by her family and caregivers.

The family welcomes friends to the visitation and memorial service, Saturday, March 11th at 12 p.m., at the Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady funeral home in Hillsville, VA, burial will follow at the Heath Banks Cemetery in Fancy Gap, VA.

Special thanks go to her caregivers, Petra, Camille and Donna among others, for making her last year so cared for and loved. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice & Palliative Care - Charlotte Region.