Obituary of Joanna Augusta Springs

Ms. Joanna Augusta Springs, age 69, of Boone died Monday evening, December 6, 2010 at Glenbridge Health & Rehabilitation. Born April 6, 1941 in Mecklenburg County, she was a daughter of the late John Alexander and Ruth Harding Springs. She was a 1959 graduate of Hickory High School, a 1963 graduate of Queens College and obtained her Master\'s Degree from Appalachian State University. Joanna was a retired elementary school teacher, having taught in Charlotte, England, and Hardin Park Elementary in Boone. She was instrumental in the creation of the kindergarten program in North Carolina, remaining in kindergarten for the rest of her career. She was a member of Boone United Methodist Church and a former member and Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church. Ms. Springs was a former president of the Boone Junior Woman's Club, active both locally and nationally. She was a member of the NCAE, NEA, and was Educator of the Year in 1972. Joanna had a special love for children and was a foster mother to twenty-four children. She was also active in the Boy Scouts of America, serving as Den Mother. She is survived by her son; Vaughn Alexander Springs and friend Clint Raymes, two sisters; Brenda Alleman of Pinellas Park, Florida and Libby Gabriel and husband Ralph of Hickory, two nephews; Todd Gabriel of Shreveport, Louisiana and John Gabriel of Birmingham, Alabama, her special friends and caregivers; Ben and Judy Miller and Peggy Horton all of Boone. Memorial services for Ms. Joanna Springs will be conducted Sunday, December 19, at 4:30 PM at the Boone United Methodist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Marianne Romanat and Rev. Spears Alexander. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Watauga Education Foundation, PO Box 2658, Boone, or to International Dementia Research Foundation, PO Box 12204, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Online condolences may be sent to the Springs family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.