JoAnn H. McKeel

JoAnn H. McKeel June 6, 1938 – February 20, 2018 JoAnn Hardie McKeel, 79, took her last breath on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, in her Wilson home with her daughter, grandson, and poodle at her side. JoAnn was born on June 6, 1938 to James McCray Hardie and Debbie Lee Hewitt Hardie in Columbus County. She moved to Wilson in 1954, where she made it her life’s work to give love to children. She was the owner and operator of JoAnn Lamm’s Nursery from 1968 until the mid-1980’s. She closed her nursery, which she had operated in her home, when new regulations said the lack of a high school diploma kept her from being qualified to operate it. In her typical style, she immersed herself in the GED program at Wilson Technical Community College and quickly earned her GED. Despite her lack of a college degree or other formal business training, JoAnn opened the original JoAnn’s Child Care Center in 1988 and a second location in 1991. She was blessed with a rare combination of business sense, work ethic, and an abiding love for children, and these provided the foundation for her successful child care business. In addition to her natural “mothering” instincts, she had the vision to constantly see where improvements could be made and the energy to make them happen. When she sold the second location in 1996, she immediately added onto the original location and later bought property next door to continue to expand and provide unique spaces for children. In 2006, she sold JoAnn’s Child Care Center and “retired,” though she never truly sat still. “Bema,” as she was called by many, loved to travel and never turned down an opportunity to accompany her daughter, Linda, on a business trip. She enjoyed buying a house and remodeling it, and seemed to always have a project underway. When she decided she wanted to do something, she was determined to do it and wasted no time getting it done! Over the past decade, she expanded her “family” through the Arts Council of Wilson. Her “happy place” was the Edna Boykin Theater, watching ACT! For Youth performances, often seeing every performance in the run of each show. A highlight of her life, as well as many, who observed her sheer joy, was her opportunity to “fly” on stage using the flying apparatus from “Willy Wonka” in 2010. In 2017, she was awarded the ACT! For Youth Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication and support. She is survived by her children; Ricky Lamm and Linda Piper (and husband, Mark) of the home, and John Gensel (and wife, Karin) of Hawaii; her grandchildren, Brett Piper (and wife, Becky Turner), Kylie Piper, and David Piper, of Chapel Hill, Zoe Gensel of Hawaii, and Sam Gensel of Alaska; as well as many nieces and nephews from Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Washington and California, whom she cherished dearly. She is also survived by her faithful teacup poodle, Holly. She was greeted in Heaven by the love of her life, Charles Hugh McKeel. They were married for twelve years before his death in 2008. She was blessed by her opportunity to be a devoted, full-time mother to Ricky for 61 years, guiding him to accomplish more than was ever thought possible when he was born in 1956. Along with her children, her grandchildren were JoAnn’s greatest blessings. Even as she was bravely battling lung cancer this past year, she was able to help Kylie realize her dream of rescuing her beloved dog, Chance, to see David graduate from high school and become an official UNC Tar Heel, and to participate in Brett and Becky’s wedding. She cherished every message received with updates and pictures from all of her grandchildren, and she crocheted blankets for all of them until her hands were sore but her heart was absolutely full. Her strong faith was obvious to all those around her. A celebration of JoAnn’s life will be held at Joyner’s Funeral Home on Friday, February 23, at 11:00 a.m., and she requested that everyone attending be encouraged to wear something pink in her honor! The service will be led by the Rev. Harold Mitchell, who baptized JoAnn, Ricky and Linda back in the 1970’s and who, along with his wife Gloria, have also been “family” for many years. Following the service, there will be a reception until 2 p.m. The family will receive friends at other times at her residence. She asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Mulligans Fore Kids, PO Box 3413, Wilson, North Carolina 27895, the Arts Council of Wilson, 124 Nash Street NE, Wilson, North Carolina 27893 or The ARC of Wilson. PO Box 3943, Wilson, North Carolina 27895. Condolences may be directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home at www.joyners.net.