JoAnna Bright

Born November 30, 1949

Died July 27, 2023

JoAnna Bright, 73, passed away this week following a 7 month battle with brain cancer. Surviving is her husband of 50 years, Stephen (Steve) K. Bright of the home. Surviving family includes son Stephen K. Bright, Jr. (wife, Elli) of West Lafayette, Indiana and daughter Caitlyn Rose Bright of Nashville, Tennessee. Grandchildren include Stephen K. Bright III, 18, of Trenton, Ohio, Savannah Bright, 15, Caroline Bright, 12, and Ashley Bright, 10, all of West Lafayette, Indiana. Also surviving is her brother, Sam Huffstetler, Jr. (wife, Stephanie) of Burlington, NC, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who were very close.

JoAnna was born in Radford, Virginia and raised in Burlington, NC, daughter of Sam and Margaret Ross Huffstetler. She graduated from Walter M Williams High School in 1968 and attended Queens College in Charlotte where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in voice. JoAnna later earned a Master of Music Education degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. JoAnna had a beautiful voice and participated in church choirs wherever she lived. She has also performed in Handel’s Messiah with the Winston Salem Symphony. She taught in public schools and taught piano privately in her home.

JoAnna had a strong faith and served in many ways wherever she lived. Most recently, she has served as an elder at Westminster Presbyterian where she worshiped for many years. She has always belonged to Bible study groups where she nourished her own faith as well as that of others. She has participated in numerous mission trips, both domestic and foreign, and has served in Kenya, Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Those experiences have left her with lasting relationships throughout the world.

In recent years, JoAnna was dedicated to the cause of the Greensboro Symphony Guild. She served in various roles with the Guild and was recently awarded the President’s Award of Merit for her service. She has also served as the President of the Board of Directors for Guilford Day School, now Noble Academy.

JoAnna was also an entrepreneur. In 1987, she and her husband started a local manufacturing company. Her participation and guidance was crucial to the early success of the company which flourished for many years.

Services to honor JoAnna’s memory will be held at 11am on Friday, August 4 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Friendly Avenue, Greensboro. In lieu of flowers, please remember her with a donation to Hope Academy in Greensboro or to the Greensboro Symphony Guild.

Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com.