Joan (Edmondson) Williams, 74, beloved mother of Donelle Sucarichi and Tracy Edmondson (+), loving Mother-in-law to Thomas Sucarichi, and treasured Grandmother to Janielle Love Williams, went home to be with Our Lord Jesus on December 19, 2016. Her presence in our lives will be greatly missed.
Born in Chicago, Illinois to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Sr. and Eula Mae Edmondson on December 17, 1942 as one of 10 children, there was much closeness and love between them all. Joan would often ask how a man with many children as her father had the means to make them all feel spoiled, especially her. She grew up with the same work ethic as her father and worked from an early age after graduation from Dunbar High in Chicago. Joan used her money for the family, for gifts for her elder sister's wedding, and, of course, for clothes for herself. Joan had many stories of growing up that would amuse and entertain the younger members of the family. After she'd given birth to her son, Tracy, she would say how much her mother loved her grandson.
Joan later married and had a daughter, Donelle, who along with her older brother, accidentally, burned down Joan's first home with her new husband. Although her family was unharmed, the marriage did not last. But her style, her humor, and her strength did. These attributes steadied her as two brothers, her parents and, eventually, her son, went home to God before her.
Joan raised Tracy and Donelle as a single mother with the help of her mother and father. She taught her children about Faith, the World, Politics, sports, Art, music, People, work, finances, Literature, survival skills and Love. Joan was a well-rounded person who mostly worked in secretarial positions for doctors, lawyers, but no Indian Chiefs. Joan would say that although she was a good secretary (Being modest. She was the best!) she'd always wanted to be a singer in a nightclub. Her mind and fingers said otherwise, as she once could type over 100 words per minute and took shorthand at 110. Whatever she did, Joan was going to be the best at it.
In the 80's, when her children had grown, she joined them in Phoenix, Arizona and worked for the State of Arizona with Senator/Governor Jan Brewer, who greatly admired and respected Joan.Following the death of her son, Tracy, she continued her work successfully with good friends and family support and continuing to dote on her granddaughter, Janielle.
Joan loved her granddaughter to the point of moving to Baltimore to be near her during Janielle's years at Johns Hopkins University. Joan remained there after her graduation and moves to Spain and Istanbul and Berlin. She constantly expressed her love and pride for her granddaughter and would tell anyone she met about Jan and her adventures.
When Joan could no longer work due to a disability, she, eventually, moved to Tampa where she could be near her daughter and son-in-law, Tommy. Joan spent many good years in Florida, being able to relax and be near her closest family, keeping in touch daily with her family in Chicago, and loving to hear about the new additions to the family, seeing pictures forwarded by mail or by Facebook. Whatever she could share with others, she did, willingly and earnestly. She loved to share her faith and wisdom in an amusing way to younger nieces and nephews in ways to recover from the 'down' times, and what to expect when they went out into the world. Joan never ceased caring for others, even in her monthly donations to women's shelters to help women recover from dire living situations.
Joan would say her life was not perfect but it was full, on her own terms, and bursting with love, touching many.
"If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest."
The holy gospel according to John 12:23-26

"Entrusted To Our Care"
MacDonald Funeral Home