Joan Via Baker Curtis was born on Jan. 1, 1941, in Norfolk to Joseph Hoskins Baker Jr. and Frances Via Baker.
She passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, surrounded by her family.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by the “Love of her Life” Clyde “Tommy” Curtis; her brother, Joseph Hoskins Baker III; and her son, Raymond Ashton “Len” Jones, who passed away June 26, 2023.
Those left to celebrate her life are her daughters, Anne Jones and Maria Durbin (Kenny); grandchildren, Sierra Cox (Spencer), Ashton Jones (Halee), and twins Jacob Durbin (Lauren Neale) and Savannah Durbin (Chandler Ford); six great-grandchildren, Hallie, Hudson, Hunter, Penelope, Piper and Kinlee; a very special niece, Christina Baker; grand-niece, Angelina Lynchesky; and bonus son, Jamie Elmore.
Joan was a stay-at-home mom for many years where she perfected her canning, baking and cooking. She was known for her famous sweet pickles.
When her children were older, Joan started the volunteer coordinator program for Hanover County. It was a program she was very proud of. She would recruit volunteers for different agencies throughout the county. She was delivering magazines to the Hanover County Jail for its reading program. It was where she met her future husband, Clyde “Tommy” Curtis, who was the jail staff’s lieutenant.
Due to her and Tommy’s love of the water and the many times they went fishing on the Rappahannock River, they moved to Middlesex County in 1987. Joan worked for Middlesex County in various positions until her retirement. She volunteered for many years with Wings, Wheels and Keels and was a active member of Harmony Grove Baptist Church.
Joan (Joanie to many) loved to can and make jelly, which she won many ribbons after entering them in the State Fair of Virginia. She had an amazing green thumb and could transplant or grow anything. Her favorite pastime of all was fishing. In fact, the only time you really saw her competitive side was when someone caught the first or biggest fish. She was also a mom to many pets and strays over the years — she loved her fur babies very much.
Momma and Nanaw will be forever in our hearts and sorely missed. We were not ready for her to leave this Earth, but we know she is rejoicing in Heaven with many loved ones that went before her. We love you so much Momma and Nanaw and miss you so much!
A service is planned for Saturday, Feb. 24 at Harmony Grove Baptist Church in Topping, with a visitation at noon and a celebration of life at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to Harmony Grove Baptist Church, P.O. Box 138, Topping, VA 23169 for the Funeral/Hospitality Team.
Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda, assisted the family.
