Joanna B. Lewis

Joanna Lewis , 92, transitioned peacefully on March 25, 2026 in her home at Kindley Assisted living at Asbury Methodist Village with her daughter Cathy Lewis by her side. Joanna had been a resident at Asbury Village for the past decade.

Joanna was born in her maternal grandmother’s house in Cumberland, Md in 1933. The family eventually moved to Pearisburg, Va with Joanna and her three younger siblings.

Joanna completed her BA in Psychology at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. and was proud to be the first woman in her family to earn a college degree.

Joanna met her husband to be Gerald Lewis at a USO Navy dance in Norfolk, Va where Gerald was stationed in the Navy. She loved to dance, especially with a good partner. Joanna and Jerry married, and eventually moved to Northern, Va where they raised their two children Jerry and Cathy.

Joanna had various jobs but was most proud of her work as a social worker in several inner city neighborhoods. Joanna also enjoyed her other lines of work including elementary school teacher, school administrator, and office manager in medical practices and small businesses in Northern Virginia. Joanna worked most of her adult life and was proud of creating a work/homemaker/motherhood balance. She was a fierce advocate for women’s rights and saw herself as an avid feminist.

The hobbies that gave Joanna much joy included music, food (cooking and fine dining), and live theater. She was an accomplished pianist and worked in small dinner theaters as the orchestra pianist and wrote restaurant and theater reviews for local magazines in Northern Virginia.

Joanna cared passionately about current events and politics and she was involved at all levels of government. Even at Asbury Village where she advocated for good food and fair practices. Joanna made great efforts to build a strong social community wherever she lived. She was loving, an amazing listener, attentive and interested in everyone’s story, and infused social interactions with humor. She was well loved by friends and family, and loved well.

Joanna was preceded in death by: niece Krissy Hobbs, grandson Nathan Lewis Wilkins, brother Williard Bradfield, niece Trixie Bradfield, X-husband Gerald Lewis, twin infants from first pregnancy (1956), and her parents Catherine and Williard Bradfield. Joanna is survived by by her two children Jerry Lewis (Eileen), Cathy Lewis (Jay), grandsons Chris Lewis (Lauren) and Nick Lewis, sisters Carole Baker and Lynn Bryan (Wayne); along with nieces and nephews Lori Veiel (Eric), Alan Baker (Kristen), Holly Bryan (Kendal), Robbie Bryan (Michelle), Steven Bradfield (Lisa), and Gene Bradfield; along with their beloved children Ben, Lizzy, Maeve, Oscar, Silas, Conner, and Sophie.

A celebration of life will be held April 4th, 2026 at 2:00pm at The Asbury Village Chapel, 211 Russel Ave. Gaithersburg, Md. A reception to gather and share memories and food will immediately follow the memorial service.