Joanna Rene"" Alford Bright

Born in Goose Creek, she was a resident of Baytown for most of her life. Joanna, along with her husband and children, were founding members of Baker Road Baptist Church and members of Memorial Baptist Church for many years. She loved to travel and experience new places. From Alaska to England and beyond, she was always ready for the next page in her own book of adventures. Joanna was a caring and compassionate person who found her calling teaching special needs children at Cedar Bayou Junior High for about 15 years. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 25 years ago, Joanna faced her illness bravely. She never complained, but instead chose to handle life's difficulties with strength, dignity, and grace. She will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she touched.

Joanna was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Thomas Lee Bright; mother, Joy Kidd Alford; and father, Homer Alford. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Janet Bright of Seabrook; daughter and son-in-law, Tammy Bright Palmer and John Palmer of Austin; grandsons, Harrison, Truman, and Bennett Bright of Seabrook and Shane Palmer of Austin; brother and sisters-in-law, Ron and Bobbie Alford of Sugar Land and Mary Ann Johnson of La Porte; mother-in-law, Ernestine Bright of Baytown; niece, Beth Rivera of Baytown; nephews, Eric Johnson of La Porte and Geoffrey McConnell of Houston; longtime partner, Randall Lee Youngblood; and her dog, Jake.

Her family will receive friends from 5 - 7 p.m. Friday at Navarre Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10 a. m. Saturday, February 13, 2010 at Navarre Funeral Chapel with Rev. Brad Hoffmann officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Ron Alford, Geoffrey McConnell, Lee Atkinson, Harrison Bright, Eric Johnson and Albert Wetz.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at http://www.nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-344-4867 or PO Box 4527, New York, NY 10163 or The American Diabetes Association, 2400 Augusta Dr., Suite 175, Houston, TX 77057-4989, www.diabetes.org.

We are glad for our time with Joanna, thank her for her many gifts and happy to see her once again with her husband and family.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.