Joanne Williams Griner

Joanne Williams Griner, 83, of Valdosta, died on Monday, September 5, 2016, at South Georgia Medical Center. Born, March 10, 1933, in Plains, the only child of Tyler Mobley and Josephine Forrester Williams, Joanne grew up in Adel, where at an early age she learned "clerking and cashiering" at Williams Mercantile Co., her parents' retail clothing store.
A graduate of Cook High School (Adel), she attended Tift College (Forsyth) and graduated cum laude from Florida State University with a BA degree in Speech (Theater). Joanne married Ray Carson Griner of Lenox in 1954 and lived in Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, Atlanta, and Connecticut before divorcing and moving to Valdosta in 1985. Having earned nine credits in accounting from Norwalk (CT)
Community College, she worked in public and corporate accounting in Connecticut and Valdosta well past the usual retirement age. She worked 16 years (began in 2000) as Financial Secretary for First Baptist Church Valdosta.
Joanne was active in many community endeavors. She was the Founding president of the Theater Guild in Valdosta in 1989, with whom she portrayed many memorable characters on stage and served in various positions on the Board of Directors; founding chairman of Valdosta-Lowndes Azalea Festival in 2001, and was currently serving on the Board of Directors. Joanne was appointed to the Central Valdosta Development Authority, serving as treasurer; member of the Civitan Club where she served variously as president, secretary and treasurer; member of the Lowndes County Historical Society and the Valdosta Heritage Foundation. An avid supporter of Downtown Valdosta, she spent 17 years volunteering with the Main Street Program, acquiring the nickname of "Downtown Grandmother."
A person of deep spiritual faith, Joanne was a member of Christ the King Episcopal Church, where she served on the vestry and as a lay reader. Memorial gifts may be made to Christ the King, 101 East Central, Valdosta, GA 31601, or to the Theater Guild Valdosta, PO Box 0123, Valdosta, GA 31603.
Survivors are her children, Catherine Anne Griner of Phoenix, Arizona, the Reverend Robert Tyler Griner (Erika Maresca) of Newton, New Jersey, Rebecca Griner Hughes (Andy) of Savannah; grandchildren, Hunter Hughes, Jonah Hughes, Daniel Hughes and Lucas Hughes of Savannah; Jesse Griner and Eliot Griner of Newton, New Jersey.
A joyful celebration of praise and thanksgiving for the life of Joanne Griner will be held, Saturday, September 10, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. at The Patterson, 101 N. Patterson St, Valdosta. Father Stan White, Reverend Mac Weaver and Reverend Robert Griner will officiate. A reception will follow the service at First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 200 W. Central Avenue, Valdosta. McLane Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com.



Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602