Joan Georgia Brown

Joan Georgia Brown entered into the presence of the Lord on September 25,2026 at the age of 95.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, October 9, 2026, at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Fr. Noah Carter officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 – 10:45 AM, at the church prior to the service. Burial will immediately follow the service at Eastlawn Gardens of Memory.

At the conclusion of the burial rites, the family will receive friends for a time of fellowship and remembrance in the Selesian Hall at Holy Cross Catholic Church.

Joan was born to the late John and Bernice (Kimmel) Borkoski and grew up in Hewlett, Long Island. After graduating high school, she went to Kean University, married and began her 32-year career as a special education teacher and found it was her calling. The family moved to Florida where she acquired her master’s degree in special education from Florida Atlantic University and taught at a private school in Ft. Lauderdale. Her most cherished teaching memory was when she taught young Native American Seminole children at the Afphackee School on the Big Cypress Reservation in the Everglades. Due to her proficiency in Spanish, she taught Haitian women English at the Catholic Outreach in Boynton Beach.

Joan was a world traveler and experienced the joy of visiting over 8 countries, with her most memorable being her trip to Israel where she walked the same streets Jesus did. She moved to Kernersville, North Carolina over 20 years ago and quickly became involved with numerous organizations. Joan served on the board of the Kernersville Historical Society for 4 years and was quick to point out that she was the only Yankee on the board. She volunteered at Next Step Ministries, the Kernersville Medical Center and was a docent at the 1870’s schoolhouse at the Fourth of July Park. Joan made calls for shut-ins for over 10 years for The Shepherd Center in Kernersville up to 3 weeks prior to her passing.

Joan loved God deeply and shared that love through kindness and service. She was an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kernersville, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. She also taught a visiting priest from Mexico how to say the mass in English along with his farewell speech. She attended senior bible study at First Christian Church and met many special friends there. She loved her family and friends and delighted in those times spent together. Her 95th birthday in August brought together many friends and family to celebrate her.

Joan is predeceased by her husband Charles Brown, son-in-law Steven Kanaley and stepdaughter Karen Brown Gee. Joan is survived by her daughters Cynthia Kanaley (Robert Thompson) of Mt. Airy, NC. Mary Anderson (James) of Stroudsburg, PA, and her son Matthew Vogt (Nancy) of Sacramento, CA, as well as her stepdaughter, Karla Mackey of Columbia, SC. Grandchildren Todd Kanaley, Ryan Kanaley (Jasmine), Meghan Kanaley (Josh Bowman), Max Vogt, Sarah Knoedler-Large (Bobby) Jesse Knoedler (Laurie) and great grandchildren, Eli Kilkenny, Georgia Bowman, Vera Large, Stevie Kanaley, Kade Kanaley, and many beloved friends and her church family.

“Safely home in Heaven, free from pain, Joan now rejoices in the presence of the Almighty.”

Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Service, Kernersville Chapel is honored to serve the Brown family.