Joan B. Carmichael (nee Billie Joan Burton), passed away on November 19, 2020, at home in Jacksonville, Florida. She was born on September 3, 1934, in Tifton, Georgia. She grew up in Vienna, Georgia, the daughter of Myrtis Talley Burton and Ralph Earl Burton - farmer and soil conservationist.
Joan graduated from Dooly High School in 1952, and she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from the University of Georgia in 1956. She began what turned out to be a short-lived career as a Home Economics teacher.
While teaching in Macon, Georgia, Joan paid a visit to the home of one of her students, Cherie Carmichael. It was then she met the Carmichael family - absent Cherie’s older brother who was away flying airplanes for the United States Navy; the “flyboy” was E. Inman “Hoagy” Carmichael. The family “decided” the two should meet. They met soon after and one of their first dates was a Georgia - Georgia Tech football game. The couple married June 28, 1959, at Smyrna Baptist Church in Vienna, Georgia. It was “so hot ... that the candles bent over and womens’ high heels curled up” from the scorching heat. Thus began her unexpected journey in life as a Navy Wife.
A plaque hangs in our home inscribed with a poem “A Wife is….” The last line is
“A wife is the girl you took for a walk who stayed for the ride.” And what a ride it was!...
Over the course of the next 33+ years Jo and Hoagy would change addresses more than 18 times living in places like Pensacola, Lemoore, Alameda, Jacksonville, Virginia Beach, Whidbey Island, Annandale, Rancho Bernardo, Springfield, Pearl Harbor, Coronado, Yokosuka, Japan, back to Springfield, Point Loma, Atsugi, Japan, and Falls Church, before retiring to Jacksonville, Florida.
Despite never remaining in any one place for more than two years, Joan was quick to make each house a home for her family. She unpacked boxes, enrolled kids in school, decorated, and fashioned window treatments for every single home! She never had idle hands. When she wasn’t making a meal (she was a fabulous cook), you could find her at the sewing machine, or while relaxing on the sofa her hands were in constant motion - knitting, even when her eyes were closed.
During the height of the Vietnam war, her responsibilities as a Navy wife increased......During these years she developed close-knit bonds and lifelong friendships as she supported Navy families whose husbands and fathers were serving away from home. As these families mutually supported one another, she maintained an unflappable calming presence among them.
In 1971 Hoagy became the Commanding Officer of Navy Attack Squadron VA-115. It was a squadron like no other. Although based in Whidbey Island WA, the officers and men of the squadron seldom saw the Pacific Northwest. Throughout 1971-72 the squadron was deployed off the coast of Vietnam flying combat missions over Haiphong and Hanoi from the decks of the USS Midway.
The wives and families of these men remained at Whidbey, forming lifelong bonds of their own. Jo, being the Commanding Officer’s wife, became the de facto leader of the families. While she didn’t volunteer for this role, she did what she always did, she embraced the responsibility. Young wives barely out of college and brand new to the ways of the Navy would turn to Mom for advice and guidance, Jo only 10 years their senior quickly became the Matron of the squadron, a role that would repeat itself time and time again through various commands. She cared for her community family no matter their background and no matter the circumstance. Mom was counted on to calm and console distraught wives who lost their husbands in tragic accidents, to guide fellow wives through the unknown and often frustrating life of Naval Aviation and to share in the joys of regular family celebrations.
Joan accepted her undefined responsibilities with confidence and composure, ever the southern-raised farm girl from Vienna, GA. During her time as “Navy Wife”, she had the opportunity to bring her southern charm to the world. And she gladly embraced that opportunity, frequently planning menus, and entertaining dignitaries. Once, in 1983, while Hoagy was Commander of the Naval Base in San Diego, they even had the opportunity to dine with the Queen of England and the Duke of Edinburgh on board H.M. Yacht, Britannia. And nowhere was that family community bond greater than during multiple tours in Japan; Mom relished extending southern [and naval] hospitality to guests in the official quarters. She loved the culture and people of Japan and it was evident that the feeling was mutual. She enjoyed golfing with the Japanese women, bon-odori dancing, the Japanese-American wives club, and teaching English at the training school. In fact, during one of those tours with Hoagy as the Captain of the USS Midway, Joan became known by her Japanese friends as “Mrs. Mid-a-way.”
In the 1990’s upon retiring to Jacksonville, FL, Jo renewed her golfing passion and enjoyed sharing this sport regularly with family and friends. She regularly hazed her son John, who despite being able to drive a golf ball over 300 yards, seldom found the fairway; Mom would smile content in her 150 yard drive smack in the middle of the fairway, and relish even more when her par putt sunk… three strokes better than “the Big Hitter!”
In Jacksonville, Jo and Hoagy were very active in the community - both among their Hidden Hills neighbors, and with their church community at Highlands United Presbyterian Church. Jo was instrumental in the launching of the “Crafty Ladies” - a talented creative group that met weekly for devotions, sharing ideas and creating beautiful handmade crafts. The Crafty Ladies was a place where friendships developed and grew as the women worked tirelessly throughout the year to put on an exceptionally successful Craft show the first week in November in what became a 20-year annual event, raising money for good and beautiful causes.
In 2008, Joan was diagnosed with cancer (Neuroendocrine Tumors - NETs). She bravely lived with the disease, undergoing pioneering treatments and therapies as she battled it for 12 years.
Jo touched the hearts and lives of so many. Inspiring others by her strength and her fighting spirit. Bill, a fellow cancer fighter, survivor and instant friend whom she met during treatments in Texas summed it up so well:
“Jo has fought the good fight, she has finished the race, and has kept the faith. We will miss you, but you will not be forgotten; we will see you again.”
Joan is survived by her husband, E. Inman “Hoagy” Carmichael; children Kelly C. Brustman (Peter) of St. Paul, MN and John B. Carmichael (Ginger) of Denver, Colorado.
She is preceded in death by her parents Myrtis Talley Burton and Ralph Earl Burton, sister Jeanine B. Dunaway, and brother Ralph Earl Burton, Jr.
Services: During this time of COVID, a small service with limited capacity seating will be held by invitation and RSVP at Hardage Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home, 850 St. John’s Bluff Road North, Jacksonville, Saturday, December 5, at 2 pm followed immediately by an outdoor visitation. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery (in the future).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to
the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation (or organization of your choice). Donations can be made by mailing a check to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, MBC-FOUND, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612; online at Moffit.org/Donate; or by calling 1(800)-456-3434, ext. 1403.
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