Joan Marie Howard, age 60 of Roaring River, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2011 at Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. She was born January 19, 1951 in Wilkes County to John Carl and Edith Marie Hager Howard. Joan was a lifelong member of Rachael Baptist Church where she served as Sunday school teacher. Joan was preceded in death by her father who passed away on May 20, 2007. Survivors include her mother Edith Marie Hager Howard of Roaring River; brother, Jerry Howard and his wife Karen of Winston-Salem; sisters, Jenny Whittington of Wilmington, Jill Green of Spring Hope, Janet Fuller of Kingsport, TN, and Jackie Huffman and her husband Bradley of Mooresville; six nieces, 4 nephews, one grand nephew, many supportive cousins, and a loving church family. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in Rachael Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017. The family would like to thank the staff of Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home for their care.