Joan Alloway (Fox) Folwell

Joan Alloway Fox Folwell, age 88, of Athens, Georgia, died on January 24, 2014 at University Nursing & Rehabilitation Center of advanced dementia.

Joan was born on July 21, 1925 in Winona, Mississippi to Hally Fox and Katie Irene Campbell Fox. She spent her early years there with her beloved older brother Hal and two precious sisters, Judith and Janet. Later, the family lived on the campus of Mississippi State College where Hally chaired the school's mathematics department. Eventually, they moved to Jackson where she studied art, which became her lifelong passion.

In 1945, at the age of 20, Joan moved to New York City where she was a Barbizon model and a member of the World War II Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). In the latter capacity, she worked with European scientists fleeing the Nazi regime. After that exciting adventure, Joan returned to Jackson and enrolled in Millsaps College where she was voted a campus beauty, joined Chi Omega sorority and earned a degree in Spanish. During college, she also lived in Mexico City for a semester learning the culture and language. At Millsaps, Joan met her husband, Henry "Harry" Philip Folwell, Jr. They were married for 62 years until his death on June 21, 2011.

Harry and Joan were blessed with three daughters: Katie, Arta and Janet. The family lived in Birmingham, Augusta and Atlanta before moving to Athens, Georgia in 2000. Joan taught high school Spanish in Birmingham and Augusta. In Atlanta, she worked many years at Mission to the World, a ministry of Presbyterian Church in America. Later, she returned to her first love, portrait painting. She was a long-time member of the Atlanta Portrait Society where her works hung in several of their annual juried shows.

Besides art, Joan's favorite pastimes included early morning walks, sewing, keeping a journal, working crossword puzzles and reading the Bible, C.S. Lewis and Barbara Pym. She always loved to sing, especially hymns. Many who knew her described her as a true Southern gentlewoman with a quiet, strong spirit and demeanor.

Joan was devoted to the Lord. She taught Sunday School and Bible studies for many years. She was a member of Wee Kirk Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Covenant Presbyterian and First Presbyterian in Augusta as well as Westminster Presbyterian in Atlanta. In her later years, she was a member of Faith Presbyterian in Watkinsville.

Joan is survived by her dear sister, Janet Fox McLaurin of Brandon, Mississippi, many nieces and nephews, daughters Katherine (Katie) Ramsey of Bogart, Georgia, Arta Marion of Columbia, South Carolina, and Janet Williams of Macon, Georgia; granddaughters Katherine Ramsey Maxey of Columbus, Georgia and Mary Blake Ramsey of Athens, Georgia; great-grandchildren William David Maxey, Annely Blake Maxey and Henry Middleton Maxey. Joan is predeceased by her husband, Henry Philip Folwell, her brother, Hal Fox of Hattiesburg, Mississippi and her sister, Judith Fox Phillips of Monroe, Louisiana.
Visitation is at 10am on Tuesday, January 28 at Lord and Stephens West Chapel, 1211 Jimmie Daniel Road, Bogart, GA 30622. Ph(706)549-3342. Funeral services to follow at 11am with interment afterwards at Evergreen Memorial Park, 3655 Atlanta Highway, Athens, GA 30606. Ph(706)543-6235.
The family is deeply grateful for the hospice care provided by Donna Patel and Patricia Tarpkins and other staff and volunteers with Gentiva Health Care and University Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.