Joan C Young

The middle child of three, Joan was born on March 22, 1936 in Olney, MD to the late McGill Owen Craver and Jane Genevieve (Hoyle) Craver.

Joan attended Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD where she was captain of the cheer squad, and she graduated with the class of 1954. A short time later, she began working for the FBI, and then later for the DIA as an Information Analyst. Of Joan’s many accomplishments during her 30+ year career, she was notably a recipient of the DIA Award for Meritorious Civilian Service. It was also during this time when Joan met and became fast friends with a new coworker, Peggy, who was also a single mother, and after they discovered their daughters were classmates only months apart in age, their bond was solidified for life.

Later, in 1981, Joan married the love of her life, Harry Young, in Virginia. They remained in the DC area for the first decade of their marriage, and in the early 90s, after Joan retired from the DIA, the couple relocated to Charlotte to be closer to Joan’s daughter, Jeanne, and newborn granddaughter, Christine. To Christine, Joan and Harry were simply Maw and Paw, and over time, those fond nicknames stuck for most of their close family and friends.

Though Joan came to Charlotte as a retiree, she was committed to staying active in all possible ways. She began working at Cheers in the airport, starting first in the gift shop and later moved to the restaurant as a server. Despite the often overwhelming atmosphere of an airport, Joan was innately outgoing and talkative, so she enjoyed the chance her job gave her to connect and interact with others.

Joan was also a diehard football fan, originally favoring her hometown team, the Washington Redskins, but she put her heart and soul into rooting for the Panthers after they were established in 1995. Naturally, she was an annual season ticket holder, and she once waited hours to be first in line to meet her favorite Panthers player, Mike Minter.

Some of Joan’s other simple pleasures included shopping and regularly getting her hair and nails done. Her kind and open heart also made her a massive animal lover. She cared for many cats and dogs throughout her life, but her best friend up until the day she passed was her American Bulldog, Bo.

In her personal life, Joan enjoyed her rich social calendar tremendously. She especially treasured her routine Sunday dinners at Linda’s, Wednesday dinners with Dan and Natalie, and Monday evenings at Gateway Cowboy Church in Stanley.

A beloved mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend, Joan will be missed immensely by all who were lucky enough to witness her remarkable spirit.

Those left to honor Joan’s memory include her daughter, Jeanne Efaw (Dale); stepson, Wayne Young; granddaughter, Christine Efaw; sister, Terri McAtee (Charlie); and many cherished nieces, nephews, other relatives, and dear friends.

In addition to her parents, Joan has been reunited in Heaven with her beloved husband, Harry Young; infant daughter, Brenda Hitch; and brother, Fred Craver.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 10:00am until 11:00am on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at Forest Lawn West Funeral Home, 4601 Freedom Drive in Charlotte.

The funeral service is to be conducted at 11:00am, immediately following the visitation, in the Paul Helton Chapel at the funeral home, where Pastor Mark Etchison is to officiate.

The burial will follow at Forest Lawn West Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s memory to the Humane Society of Concord & Greater Cabarrus County or Partnership to End Addiction.