Joan Brewer Huffman

Joan Brewer Huffman, age 88, of Macon, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 22, 2025. A Celebration of her Life will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Snow's Memorial Chapel, 1419 Bass Road, Macon, Georgia 31210, with visitation to follow. A private burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery. Pastor Ronnie Hollis will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to be made to the MGA Foundation, designated to the Joan B. Huffman Scholarship—a lasting tribute to her enduring legacy. Contributions may be made online at https://giving.mga.edu.

Born in Springfield, Ohio, Joan was the daughter of the late Berniece Notter Brewer and James Clarence Brewer. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Russell Huffman, whom she married on August 21, 1959.

Dr. Huffman earned her BA in History with highest honors from Ohio University in 1959, followed by an MA and PhD in History from Georgia State University in 1968 and 1980, respectively. She was a Professor Emerita of History at Middle Georgia State University, where she served from 1968 to 2000 as a founding faculty member when it was still Macon Junior College.

Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Huffman served on 33 university committees, founded the Women’s Caucus in 1994, and was honored with the creation of the Joan B. Huffman Women’s Caucus Scholarship in 2002. She also served as a Trustee of the Macon State College Foundation, and held leadership roles in the European Council, Georgia Humanities Council, and the University System of Georgia’s History Advisory Committee.

Her scholarly achievements were recognized with the Governor’s Award in the Humanities (1998) and the inaugural MSC Award for Outstanding Scholarly Activity. She was a proud member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Alpha Theta, and published numerous biographical articles, culminating in her 2018 book, Lady Frances, Frances Balfour, Aristocrat Suffragist, reflecting her lifelong passion for women’s rights.

After retiring from academia, Joan joined the family business, serving as Secretary of The Printed Page, a beloved Macon bookshop and stationery store, and later as Secretary of Picture Perfect and PB & Jellie, a national stationery and gift company.

She was an active member and former president of The Beltista Club in Perry, Georgia, and held roles in the House and Garden Club, Georgia Women of Achievement, Friends of the Library, and the Middle Georgia Historical Society.

Joan is survived by her daughters: Jill Potter of Shippensburg, PA (husband, Albert; children, Rutledge [wife, Miranda] and AJ [deceased 2014]) and Jean Peterson (husband, Johnny; children, Jack and Ellie); her sister, Nina Curley of Kettering, Ohio; nephew, Doug (Lisa) Brush; and niece, Kim (Greg) Supensky, also of Kettering.

Her legacy lives on through her family, her students, and the many lives she touched through her scholarship, advocacy, and service.

Snow's Memorial Chapel, Bass Road, has charge of arrangements.