Joan Edwards' Obituary
Joan “Dr. Mom” Edwards, 87, of Chattanooga, passed away Sunday, January 4, 2026, in a local hospital. She was born January 4, 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was affectionately called by family and friends, “Mom”. She graduated from Glenville High School, in Cleveland, Ohio. Joan went on to earn an Associate degree in Nursing and received her Pharmacology license from Case Western Reserve, also in Cleveland, Ohio. Joan worked as a precept for training doctors straight out of Medical School at University Hospital. In addition, she worked at Cleveland Clinic Hospital and various nursing homes.
Joan relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee over 20 years ago and was employed by Hamilton County Nursing Home. She retired from Life Care of Chattanooga after many years of service.
Joan was well known for getting family and friends in the neighborhood together to do Richard Simmons work out videos, play Monopoly, Jeopardy, and held family weekly Bible Study at home. Additionally, Joan was not only skilled in nursing, but was a powerhouse in bowling, earning several trophies. Joan enjoyed watching the television shows Matlock, Murder She Wrote, and Perry Mason.
Although most of Joan’s time after retirement was devoted to being a member of Pneuma Church, she enjoyed watching Creflo Dollar and Joyce Meyers. Joan was known for giving a bible scripture when she was asked for advice. Everyone knew that she has a great love for God and the Word. Her favorite saying was always “To God be the Glory!”
Joan was preceded in death by her father, Henry Howard; mother, Annie Lee Howard; daughter, Marcelle Ann Caldwell; and granddaughter, Jennifer Nicole Holimon.
Those left to cherish Joan’s memory include three daughters, Michelle (Jimmy) Ingram, Irene Holimon of Chattanooga, and Vanessa (Roderick) Johnson of Seattle, WA; two sons, Stefron T. Saunders of Las Vegas, NV and Michael G. Saunders of Chattanooga; sister, Mable E. McQueen of Los Angeles, CA; grandchildren, Dr. Joann Saunders; Donell E. Holimon, Jr., Jessica Johnson, Derrick D. (DJ) Windom, Sierra Webb, Stephen Johnson, Courtney (Fred) Glover, and Taylor Gist; a host of great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Joan will lie-in-state on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 1-5 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home. Burial will be Friday, January 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Lakewood Memory Gardens, East. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Pneuma Church with Dr. R. J. McCowan, Sr. as the Eulogist.
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