Eileen Joan Chadwick Mainor was born August 4, 1928 in Chepstow, England and departed this life on December 2, 2023 at Columbus Hospice. A celebration of life to honor Joan will be held on Friday, December 8 at 1:00 pm at Saint Luke Church with a visitation reception following the services.
Joan traveled to the United States in 1951 to visit her sister in Columbus and began worshiping at Saint Luke Church. It was there that she met and then married Bill Mainor. They started a family and built a wonderful life together. They participated in church, civic groups and activities that helped to build, sustain, and support the Columbus community for which they had great affection. Joan loved to be involved and joined many clubs that supported her affinity for antiques, bridge, and gardening. Among the many charitable organizations she was involved with, she felt closest to the Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home for girls. She looked forward to planning and participating in the annual holiday party, which brought joy to the young girls residing there.
Joan adored her home country of England. She took every opportunity to share English culture with friends and family through her famous “Tea Talks” and her annual Christmas Tea. She graciously shared information about World War II with Columbus elementary-aged school children, describing how she and her family survived. She learned to cherish her adopted country of America with her whole heart, so much so that she gained her citizenship in the 1970s.
After 56 wonderful years of marriage, Joan was preceded in death by her husband Bill Mainor.
In 2015 she married Keith Prentice. He lovingly referred to Joan as his “sweetie” in her final years.
Joan’s zest for life and learning will always be remembered. She held dear time spent with her friends and family at home, abroad or wherever she was with them.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents Bernard Chadwick and Edith Collins Chadwick, brother Walter Halliday (Dot), sister Phyllis Whaley (Jim), and husband Bill Mainor. Joan is survived by her daughter Mary Hall (Steve), her son Jim Mainor (Julie) and her beloved grandchildren Chad Hall (Lindsay), Stephanie Reeder (Tyler), and Kristen Hearn (Andrew), and great-grandchildren Jackson, Garrett, Lily, McKinley, and Rosemary who affectionately referred to her as “Bobo”, along with adored extended family in England.
We will miss her terribly but when we think of her we will do so with the remembrance of her wit, her love for us all, and her enthusiasm for life. We pray that those who grieve this earthly loss know Joan was overjoyed that she was able to tell her family goodbye and assured us she would meet us in heaven.
The family wishes to express its gratitude to Joan’s caregivers and healthcare providers, including the Spring Harbor Memory Support Staff and Dr. Jamal Mohyuddin, as well as the Spring Harbor dining staff who affectionately remember Joan as she instructed them in how to prepare the perfectly brewed cup of English tea.
Immense gratitude is given to Joan’s private caregivers Bernice Young, Geraldine Williams, Janice Marbury, Joanne Pearsey and LaTonya Wilson who continuously provided so much care and comfort for her during the latter part of her life.
Special thanks to dear family friend and Mary’s chosen “sister”, Jeannie Lias, for her unwavering support and care for Joan and Bill for more than 35 years.
In lieu of flowers, Joan’s request and preference would be for the girls at the Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home (751 Double Churches Road, Columbus, GA 31904) to benefit from donations in her memory, or a charity of your choice.
