Joan Lee Hassa

She was born to the late Joe and Addye Lee Young on December 3rd, 1935 in Savannah, Tennessee. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her former husband, Ralph Hassa.

Joan was raised in Adamsville, a small town in McNairy County, Tennessee. She inherited her competitive nature from her dad, who was a school principal and basketball coach. Joan was a star on the Adamsville High School basketball team and loved to recall the story of the time she scored the game winning basket from half-court at the buzzer. In addition to her athleticism, Joan was well-loved which was demonstrated by fellow students who voted her Most Popular in her sophomore and senior years. Joan’s favorite tradition was going home to Adamsville every second Sunday in May to place flowers on the graves of loved ones and visit family.

Many will remember Joan as being a wonderful friend, one who was full of life and good laughs, but to her three daughters, Cathy, Tamara and Hope, she will be remembered as the rock of their family.

Joan loved being a mother and had her own close, unique relationship with each of her daughters. She was independent, fun-loving and devoted to her girls, always putting their needs before her own. She loved the Lord and taught her children about Jesus and the hope of eternal life. Joan passed on to her daughters many other important lessons such how to stretch a dollar and her distaste for anything orange.

To her grandchildren, Beth, Brad and Paul she was known as Mama Jo, a nickname that was shortened to MJ. She was very involved in their life, always making time for their events and games. As her grandkids grew her relationship with each remained strong and she was proud of the adults they had become.

A significant part of Joan’s life centered around First Assembly Christian School where she worked for more than 25 years. She earned the respect of both faculty and students with her no-nonsense approach to teaching coupled with her ability to mentor and be a positive role model.

Anyone who knew Joan knows that there was no bigger University of Memphis Tiger basketball fan. Joan loved her Tigers and never missed a game, sometimes even dying her hair blue to show her support of the team.

Joan was very proud of the fact that she had traveled all over the world, traveling to many countries including China, Israel, Egypt and Australia. She made sure to pack a Memphis Tigers t-shirt and was always amazed when she would hear someone yell GO TIGERS to her even in faraway places. She always said she wanted to take a Tiger t-shirt to heaven to proudly show people from where she was from. The family is honoring that wish by including one with her burial.

The most important thing Joan will be remembered for is her faith. She was a longtime member of Crestview Christian Church and then New Hope Christian Church where she was actively involved. Every day for decades, Joan could be found sitting in what she called her Jesus chair where she read the Bible cover to cover and prayed for her family and friends. Joan was at her core a faithful servant and never doubted that the Lord would meet her needs. Even in her final days, Joan called out to the Lord to take her home. This enduring trust in Christ is her legacy and it gives us hope in the fact that we will see her again.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Cathy Bickers, Tamara Burton (Neil), Hope Sneed (Allen); grandchildren, Beth Buckelew (Zac), Brad Bickers (Natalie), Paul Burton (Dalia); and her great-grandchildren, Greyson Buckelew, and Arwen Lee Buckelew; sister Brenda Galloway and niece Renea Milligan.

Family will receive friends from 12:00pm to 2:00pm on Thursday, July 28th at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd, Bartlett, TN with services starting at 2:00pm. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made for the Senior Saints Scholarship Fund at Johnson University.

Checks should be payable to Johnson University and mailed to 7900 Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37998 with a note that it is in memory of Joan Hassa.

Contributions can also be made online at

www.JohnsonU.edu/donate

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Hassa family.