After a lifetime of caring, sharing and helping, JoAnn Graves Featherson, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and sister-friend, suddenly and unexpectedly went to her well-deserved eternal rest on Friday August 10th. JoAnn was born October 15, 1932, to Roy E. Graves and Mattie C. Graves in the Village of Tuckahoe in Westchester County, New York.
She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Howard University in 1954 and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Howard University in 1957. She was awarded a scholarship to pursue a Doctor of Social Work Degree, but ended her studies to begin a forty-year career as a licensed social worker in Washington, DC.
JoAnn began her career in social work with the Child Welfare Division of the Department of Public Welfare (the former DC Department of Vocational Rehabilitation) in a pilot program with the DC Department of Public Assistance. The program was designed to evaluate the potential for self-sufficiency of welfare recipients engaged in rehabilitation services. JoAnn was later employed by the DC Department of Public Health’s Home Care Service Bureau and provided an array of health care services to homebound medically disabled DC residents. In the early 1980’s the Home Care Service Bureau faced a loss of Medicare funding for skilled nursing care because of deficits in compliance with federal standards. Tasked with addressing the potential crisis, JoAnn reviewed hundreds of records and extensive reports and made recommendations for extensive programmatic changes which were adopted. The implementation of her recommendations resulted in continued accreditation and funding of the program. She was the recipient of an award by the DC Government for her outstanding work on that project. After forty years of service with the DC Department of Public Health JoAnn retired and began a second career with the United Planning Organization (UPO) of DC. UPO is the dedicated community action agency for Washington, DC. UPO was created to plan, coordinate, and implement human services programs for low-income residents in the nation’s capital. At UPO JoAnn provided case management services to homeless families in recovery for substance abuse. She subsequently established and managed the UPO Shelter Plus Case Program. This program served homeless families certified for recovery from substance abuse with permanent housing, case management services, special needs assistance and other self-sufficiency support services. JoAnn retired from UPO in 2007, but her deeply held concern for people facing challenges and adversity continued. In May of 2007, she was recognized for her dedication and service to Howard University’s School of Social Work at her 50th Class Reunion of Howard University’s School of Social Work. In addition to a life devoted to helping others, JoAnn’s life was defined by her strong Christian faith and her love, devotion and total commitment to her family’s well-being. JoAnn made incredible sacrifices to ensure that her children received a college education. Two of her children were able to pursue additional degrees because of her continued support and assistance.
She was predeceased in eternal rest by her parents and brothers Roy E. Graves, Jr., and Raleigh Graves of Westchester County, New York. Her marriage to Clarence H. Featherson, Esq., ended in divorce.
She is survived by her children, Karen Featherson of Encinitas, CA, Clarence (Marly) E. Featherson, Esq., of Silver Spring, MD and Karl Featherson of Washington, DC and her grandchildren Edward Featherson and Imani Featherson of Silver Spring, MD. She is also survived by her niece Pamela Graves of Darmstadt Germany, her nephew Michael Graves (Cynthia) of Las Vegas, NV and grand-nephews Luke Graves, Atlas Graves, Samson Graves and grand-niece Sophia Graves. She is also survived by sister friends Carole Graves of Columbia, MD, Cynthia Harris of Las Vegas, NV, cousins and other family members. JoAnn beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and sister-friend you will be deeply missed, always remembered and loved forever.
Visitation on Monday, August 20th from 11:00 AM until chapel service at 12:00 PM at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20904. Interment George Washington Cemetery, 9500 Riggs Rd, Adelphi, MD 20783.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to So Others Might Eat (SOME) charity, 71 O Street, NW., Washington, DC, https://some.org.
Please view and sign the family guest book at www.hinesrinaldifuneralhome.com
