JoAnn Yancey

JOANN YANCEY, 83, of Little Rock passed away on May 4, 2012. She was born on Nov. 17, 1928 in Little Rock to Myrtle Hill Campbell and Terry Campbell. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband John Yancey, her brother Nelson Knight and her stepfather Morris Ivy. JoAnn grew up in Little Rock and attended Central High School and Little Rock Junior College. She was married to John Yancey on Jan. 15, 1950, and began raising her family during her husband's service in the Korean War. In 1958, she was part of the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools in the aftermath of the Central High desegregation crisis. She was an active member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church for many years, teaching Sunday School and serving on the Vestry. She and her husband owned and operated Yancey's Liquor Store on Kavanaugh. She served her community as a board member of Habitat for Humanity and as a volunteer preparing and serving meals at Our House Shelter. She was an avid reader, loved traveling with her family and friends and enjoyed many Elderhostel trips during her life. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Anne Yancey and her husband Albert Flaig of Lowell, Ark., Dena Yancey of Little Rock, Stuart Yancey and his wife Mary Mike Cradock of St. Louis, Mary Burt Yancey of Los Angeles, and Laura Neve and her husband Gary of Little Rock. She is also survived by her grandchildren Georges-Antoine Launet and his wife Jessica, Charles Flaig, Lucia Anne Trujillo, Katherine Anne Greer and Joseph John Iwunze. The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Wilson Wong for his years of compassionate care, to the nurses and staff at the Arkansas Heart Hospital who cared for her in her final days and to the staff at the Arkansas Heart Hospital Strong Heart Clinic for their years of loving care. Special thanks go to her caregivers Denise Mitchell and Glenda Baker, with our deepest appreciation to Christina Jones for her love and devotion to our mother for many years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County or to Our House Shelter. The family will receive friends on Monday, May 7, from 4-7 p.m. at Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth Funeral Home, 5800 West 12th Street in Little Rock. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 8 at 3 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1000 North Mississippi in Little Rock. Interment at the St. Mark's Columbarium will follow the service. You may send the family messages of encouragement at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.