Joann Edith Ellerman

JoAnn was born August 25, 1940 to Martin Hendrie Noonan and Vivian Elizabeth Ryan Noonan in Denver, Colorado. The family moved to Iowa where JoAnn graduated from Waverly High School in 1958. JoAnn then attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she studied for two years until she transferred to the University of Iowa. She majored in Speech Pathology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1962. While at the University of Iowa, she was a founding member and first pledge class president of Alpha Phi Sorority.

JoAnn taught special education in Iowa and then in Oregon where her husband, James L. Ayres, was attending graduate school. JoAnn and James had a daughter, Christine, born in 1967 while in Oregon. The family then moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where they had their second daughter, Jennifer, born in 1969. The family moved to Atlanta in 1970, where JoAnn worked for DeKalb County Schools until her retirement.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Michael, first husband James, and second husband Darwin. She is survived by a brother Gary (Diane), her daughters Christine (Christian Bothe) and Jennifer, two grandchildren Alexandra and Lucas, two nieces Michelle and Katherine (Leigh Hubbard), two nephews Michael and Martin, three great-nephews Brady, Jack, and Cody, and one great-niece Molly.

There will be a Celebration of Life later this year. In lieu of flowers, donations in JoAnn’s name can be made to Capstone Hospice (Fragile First Foundation) at www.capstonehospice.com or the Humane Society of Cobb County at www.humanecobb.com.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/atlanta-cremation for the Ellerman family.