Joan was born on May 11, 1936 in Davila, Texas. After a few years in Davila, the family decided to move to Lubbock Texas where she grew up and later made her home.
Joan accepted Christ at an early age and was a faithful member of New Hope Baptist Church for over 60 years. She served in several ministries over the years, but her favorite was as Sunday School teacher where she could use her teaching skills and her love for the Lord to teach His word.
She attended Dunbar High School where she was very active in scholastic and extra-curricular school activities up to and including varsity cheerleader, varsity basketball, Senior Class Secretary, Student Council and was voted Most Outstanding Senior Girl. She was known for her beautiful smile, long eyelashes and was voted one of the Homecoming Queens her senior year. While Joan initially attended Bishop College located in Dallas, Texas, she later earned a scholarship and transferred to Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, Texas to be closer to home. While at Wayland, she was a starter on the girls’ basketball team and excelled in academics ultimately graduating from Wayland with a degree in Education.
Joan was an Educator in the Lubbock Independent School District for 33 years. Joan taught school at Dunbar High, Monterey High, Alderson Junior High, Phyllis Wheatley Elementary and Parkway Elementary. Her teaching skills have had a lasting impact on the many youths that she educated over the years. Even though she retired many years ago, former students still thank Joan, today, for what she taught them. It was certainly much more than just the ABCs, but instead, valuable life lessons and life skills.
Joan had a passion for life and she and Arthur often had friends over for a meal or a friendly card game while listening to the Blues.
Joan worked tirelessly as a dedicated community servant for numerous years, serving Lubbock and surrounding areas. Her areas of service included food drives, meal delivery, toy drives, Muscular Dystrophy telethon, volunteering to teach at the local community center. She loved teaching calligraphy because she was an avid reader and calligraphy was a beautiful word art.
Joan was honored as a Golden Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and served with Eta Delta Omega Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha in several officer capacities, up to and including Basileus during her 56-year tenure. In that window of time Joan was responsible for bringing the VERY FIRST South Central Regional Conference of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority to Lubbock (the first and only since), Joan Crawford was often the first call the Mayor would make to get projects done, and/or to assist with other existing projects, not just in her community, but in all the city of Lubbock including the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Other projects Joan led were Miss Future Fashionetta, The Debutante’s Cotillion, Miss Black Lubbock Pageant and many others.
She received the George Woods Award for outstanding service in education from the NAACP, the Theodore Phea, Jr. Award for community service, the Servicing the Youth of Lubbock Council Award for her outstanding commitment and service, and the Lubbock Independent School District Award for 33 years of service.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband - Arthur Jones, mother – Jessie Evans, step-father – John Evans, and brother Charles Kerr.
Joan is survived by her children daughter- Michelle Harper – San Antonio, Texas; son-Geoffrey Crawford (Toni) – Sugar Land, Texas; and son- Craig Crawford – Lubbock, Texas; her brothers, Clovis Kerr (Mildred) – Los Angeles, California; and John Ricky Evans – Lubbock, Texas; her grandchildren-Natalie Bell – Denver, Colorado; Brandon Crawford (Jennifer) – San Antonio; Texas, Tamara Bell – Austin, Texas; Quentin Crawford (Lauren) – Ft. Worth, Texas; Alexandria Crawford- Lubbock, Texas; and Stefan Crawford (Valeria) Houston, Texas; and one great grandchild Breckyn Crawford – San Antonio, Texas. Extended Family Damon and Angela Sayles, Ashley Crawford, Julie White, Sonia and Byron Nelson, Brian Jones and a host of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Joan’s name to New Hope Baptist Church at 2002 Birch Ave., Lubbock, TX. 79404.
"In honor and celebration of Joan's life, please wear a touch of pink with your attire."
Social distancing and facemasks are required.
