February 20, 2025, 77, Goldsboro —
Joan Carolyn Rose, 77, passed away peacefully at UNC Health Wayne in Goldsboro, NC on February 20, 2025 surrounded by family and friends.
Joan was born to Rayford and Edna Barrow on November 13, 1947 in the Shine Community of Greene County, North Carolina.
She attended Greene County schools and discovered her gift of writing, and later served as editor of her high school newspaper. In her formative years and beyond, she made many friends who remained close throughout her life. Joan was naturally talented and enjoyed drawing at a young age. As a junior in high school, representatives from an art school in Chicago visited her home to persuade her parents to allow her to expand her horizons of the arts. That was an immediate “no way” from her Dad as he showed them to the door. Her sister always joked with her about missing the opportunity to become famous.
In 1980 she married the love of her life, Robert L. Rose and wholeheartedly welcomed his four children as her own. Her life was filled with wonderful memories of their childhoods and the beautiful lives they made for themselves. She worked alongside Robert in the furniture business during their 37 years of marriage. They sacrificed much for their family, and worked long hard days to ensure the success of their endeavors.
This past year while recovering from major heart surgery, Joan revisited her love for the arts and spent many hours with her neighbors around her table, crafting with decoupage and enjoying each other’s company.
Joan considered the view from her porch a picturesque haven, and loved sitting with her dog, Zee, overlooking the Wildlife Lake. She enjoyed the beauty of God’s work, especially many phenomenal sunrises and sunsets, which she often captured photographically and graciously shared with family and friends.
Joan was blessed with the love of so many neighbors and good friends. She looked forward to a monthly lunch date with her “Old Friends Forever” group and catching up on life. During the past several months she enjoyed coordinating casual supper nights with her close-knit neighbors. This sense of community richly blessed Joan’s life, especially after losing Robert.
Joan is survived by her children, Bert Rose (Ramona), Beth Rose, Amy Rose Cecil (Curtis) and Mary Margaret Rose Radford (Daryl). She is also survived by grandchildren, Mary Glenn Dinger (Brandon), Ali Pearson LeBlanc (Tom), Caroline Brody (Adam), Robert Vance Morris, Thomas and Joseph Radford; great grandchildren, Cannon, Grayson, and Raleigh Dinger, Pierce and Anna Sloan LeBlanc, Conley, Oakley, and Baker Brody. She also leaves behind to cherish her memories her sisters, Edna Hoogewind (Jon) and Audrey Walker and many nieces and nephews.
With a debt of gratitude, the family would like to acknowledge Randy and Lee Gray, Matthew and Lynn Harrison, and Ryan Harrison. Their unwavering and generous support of Joan and her fur baby, Zee, through the years will always be remembered.
Joan was prepared to meet the Lord and knew that God had a place ready for her.
A funeral service to celebrate Joan’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home with Pastor Andy Rose officiating. Entombment will follow at Willow Dale Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. in the hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
