Joanne Maria Young Brooks

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on May 4, 2022, at Friedland Moravian Church. Visitation will be held at 1:00 pm prior to the service. Burial will follow the funeral at Friedland Moravian Church cemetery.

Joanne was born on November 23, 1929, in Lucas, Ohio to Mabel May and Lee J. Young. She and her sister Patricia grew up in Ohio, Florida, and Michigan. Joanne attended boarding school in St. Augustine Florida and later moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan with her mother. In her early adulthood she worked as a nursing assistant at the University of Michigan Hospital where she met Martin Luther Brooks while he was in medical school. They married in 1949 and lived in Ann Arbor until 1958 when they moved to Pembroke, North Carolina following his graduation from medical school. At the time of their move, their family had already grown to include Michael Lee, Laurie Ann, Kathleen Jo, and Mary Jane. After settling in Pembroke, the family grew to include Matthew Lyndon and Amy Mae. In 1970 Joanne and children moved to Winston-Salem where she created a home for the remainder of her life.

In 1983, Joanne earned her Associate Degree of Nursing from Forsyth Technical Institute. She spent the next 15 years serving as a dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse at Baptist Hospital. After retiring, Joanne focused her energy of being Mema to a growing extended family. Mema remembered birthdays with cards and visits. She attended as many dance recitals, band performances, parties, ball games, swim meets, graduations, showers, and weddings that she could realistically get to.

Joanne was an avid reader and was known to finish an entire novel in one sitting. This love of reading helped others as she taught adults to read while living in Pembroke. She loved cats, she was “mom” to a lot of lucky felines who found their way to her. She had a talent for knitting and crocheting which were often gifts for grand and great grandchildren. She began knitting as a child when she knitted socks for soldiers during the war. Joanne had a deep and unwavering faith that sustained her, especially during challenging times.

Joanne is preceded by sister Patricia Washick, son Michael Lee, daughter Mary Jane, granddaughter Nicolette Rochelle Brooks Hunt, grandson Peyton Brooks Strickland, and grandson Logan Brooks. She is survived by daughters Laurie (Wayne) Godwin, Kathleen (Donald) Strickland, son Matthew (Andi) Brooks, and daughter Amy (Michael) Read. She has 19 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Joanne was an amazing mother and “Mema”, not only to the children she gave birth to but also many who needed a safe haven. She was lovingly referred to as “mom” or “mema” by many who found her compassionate and non-judgmental nature a comfort when they needed it most.

Joanne will be missed by all of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Future great grandchildren will be told stories of their strong, loving, wise, and resilient Great Grandmother. She lived a full life and packed a lot into her 92 years. It is indeed time for Joanne to rest in peace. Funeral services will be held at 2;00 pm Wednesday at Friedland Moravian Church. Burial will follow in the church graveyard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.