Joan Hill Hanks

She was born October 4, 1929 in Chattanooga to the late Eugene Walter Hill and Aliene Gattis Hill. She graduated from Chattanooga High School and the University of Chattanooga (UTC). She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She worked in the secretarial field and then as an Engineering Aid at TVA. She was a longtime member of First Centenary United Methodist Church and their United Methodist Women.

Active in civic, community, and patriotic groups, she served as President of Pro Re Bona Nursery Association when the two nurseries were peacefully integrated in 1965. She was a Girl Scout Leader, President of Signal Mountain Junior High PTA, Signal Mountain Community Guild, and Garden Club of Signal Mountain and a Charter Member of the Signal Mountain Genealogical Society; Regent of Moccasin Bend Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution; President of Volunteer-Wauhatchie Chapter, US Daughters of 1812; President of General A. P. Stewart Chapter, UDC; President of Prudhomme Fort Chapter, Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century; and State President, Tennessee Society USD 1812. She is a Life Member of Tennessee Society DAR (TSDAR) Past Regents’ Club and State Chairmen’s Club, and Chattanooga DAR past Regents’ Club; and was in Daughters of American Colonists, and other patriotic organizations on state level. She served as TSDFAR TN Bicentennial Vice-Chairman compiling a Poetry Book of member’s patriotic poems. She was active in local and state level of Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs influencing them to support the preservation of the Tennessee River Gorge, serving as State Land Trust Chairman raising money and awareness through garden clubs across the state to protect this “Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River.”

A poet for many years, she wrote “A Tennessee Bicentennial Rap 1797-1996” that was passed by the State Legislature as the Official Tennessee 1996 Bicentennial Rap. She wanted everyone to know Tennessee history and that we were the Volunteer State from the War of 1812. She performed the Rap across the state, and students and others performed the Rap as it taught TN history while having fun at the same time. Her Bicentennial Rap is archived at Middle TN State University’s Department of Popular Music.

A few of her many honors received: listed in Outstanding Young Women of America, the first woman honored as the Signal Mountain Woman of the Year, presented Life Memberships in PTA and in Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs; recognized by Chattanooga-Hamilton County Scenic Cities Beautiful Commission, Tennessee River Gorge Trust, Tennessee Society DAR, Tennessee Society USD 1812, and Tennessee 200 Bicentennial Celebration.

She was the widow of George Russell Hanks. Survived by two daughters: Jeanne (John) Balsam, Atlanta/Cedar Bluff, AL; and Judith (Allen) Fethe, Signal Mountain, TN; three grandsons: Justin (Leanne) Balsam Phenix City, AL, Jeff (Kelly) Balsam Huntsville, AL, Bo (Haley) Fethe Tampa, FL; one granddaughter Allison Fethe (Aaron) Fethe Jackson Jacksonville, FL; five great grandchildren: Chloe Balsam, Jeffrey Balsam Jr., George Balsam, Thompson Balsam, Elizabeth Jackson, and due this fall, Abigail Jackson; and Godson Hugh Griffith Garner. She was preceded in death by two sisters Martha Jean Haynes and Barbara Hill Brown. She leaves many nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will be held at 12 PM Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Kate Lyle West Chapel of First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 419 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN with Dr. David Harr and Rev. Michelle Hunter officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 11 AM at the church. Internment in the Chattanooga National Cemetery immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First-Centenary UMC, P.O. Box 208, Chattanooga, TN 37402 or a favorite charity.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com.