Joan Ellett Graves

Joan Ellett Graves, 87, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 13, 2016. She was born in Bristol, England, July 11, 1928, and was the daughter of Thomas R. Ellett and Edith May Brown Ellett. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 63 years, George Milton Graves, her grandson Benjamin Hair, and her son-in-law Stanley Bjorum. Joan is survived by daughters, Brenda Hair and her husband Gordon; Valerie Roadman, Stacey Liljegren, and Donna Fredrick; grandson, John T. Liljegren and his wife Jasveen Kaur; and brother-in-law, Julian Rea Graves.

In July 1945, Joan met George, an American soldier, in Bath, England, and they married in November. In May 1946, as one of thousands of war brides, 17-year-old Joan left her homeland, and traveled to America on the Queen Mary. Charlottesville and Albemarle County became and remained her home for 70 years.

As Joan raised four daughters, she obtained a GED from Lane High School with highest honors, and became very active in her new community. She began by working diligently on the Board of the Berkeley Community Association and serving over the years in various roles in the League of Women Voters, Citizens for Albemarle, TOPS Club, Martha Jefferson Hospital Auxiliary, Albemarle County Planning Commission, Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, and Places 29 Community Advisory Counsel. She was also a past Sunday School Superintendent at the Church of Our Savior on Rio Road.

With a love for animals, Joan enjoyed many years working at Dr. Huckle’s veterinary hospital and volunteering at the SPCA. Joan’s love and curiosity for the Graves’ family heritage drew her heavily into genealogical research and Albemarle County history and to memberships in the Central Virginia Genealogical Association and the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society. Through volunteer work at the Historical Society, she helped hundreds with their search for family heritage.

Joan was a beautiful lady, charming and witty; and she had a flair for writing. She was a woman with passionate opinions and simple tastes. She will be missed by many.

Special thanks to the Hospice of the Piedmont, daughter Stacey who cared for her the past 3 ½ years, and Bonnie Salecker who most recently helped with her care.