Joanne Field Garner

Joanne was born September 9, 1942, in Jacksonville, FL. She spent the early part of her childhood in Falls Church, VA where she was raised by her parents, Charles E. Field, Sr. and Alice Dorricott Field, to have an appreciation for life and a love for the Lord. By the time Joanne was in the fifth grade, the family had returned to Jacksonville, FL. She graduated from Jacksonville’s Robert E. Lee High School in 1960 and Stetson University in DeLand, FL in 1964. Throughout high school and college, she worked on the yearbook committees where she developed a lifelong love of writing and journalism. She was proud to be the editor of both her high school and college yearbooks in each of her senior years, respectively.

After college, Joanne delighted in a career as an English teacher, first at Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, FL and then at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, FL. She was enthusiastic to serve as the Advisor to the Yearbook Committees at both schools.

Joanne married Roger Garner on August 1, 1969. She described Roger as the love of her life. Knowing that she was the spouse of a self-proclaimed teller of tall tales, she knew that her stepchildren, and later grandchildren, looked to her as the “truth monitor” to know when something that seemed too fantastical to be true was indeed false. But there were times when she couldn’t help but verify a tall tale that particularly made her chuckle.

With Roger, Joanne found a great love of travel. The two would take long road trips across the country in their motor home. They visited all 50 states and were particularly thrilled to take all five of their grandchildren to Alaska. As a lifelong learner, Joanne deeply valued travel as a form of education. She delighted in trips with family and friends that included visits to historic sites, art museums, and national parks.

Joanne retired from teaching in the mid-1970s to assist Roger in running Triangle Reprographics, Inc., the family business they created and nurtured with friend and business partner, Ken Thomas. Founded in 1972 and in operation until 2024, Triangle Reprographics grew over the decades from a small drafting supplies and blueprinting shop to a large-scale printing and graphics company. Joanne put great emphasis on social activities that fostered community amongst Triangle’s employees including monthly newsletters, company picnics in the spring, and the annual Triangle Christmas party.

Joanne volunteered for many years at College Park Baptist Church where she was an active member for much of her life. Most notably, she served as a teacher for the church’s English as a Second Language (ESL) class. She took great care in planning lessons and treated her role as an instructor with every bit as much seriousness as she brought to her high school teaching career.

Joanne’s greatest legacy is found in the generations she leaves behind. Two of her proudest titles were “Granny” and “Aunt Joanne.” Her grandchildren, nephews, and niece describe her collectively as generous, thoughtful, and vibrant. She passed on a deep value of education, and she ensured all her grandchildren had the opportunity to complete a college education. She encouraged them to pursue their interests and courses of study. She took great pleasure in taking the children in her life on cultural outings from science and art museums to plays and musicals. She was creative and valued the arts, photography, theatre, and sculpture. She took great interest in life and the world around her. She was independent and tremendously social, even in her final year of life. She would talk on the phone for hours with her family and friends who lived far away, always asking inquisitive questions and taking genuine interest in their lives. She loved butterflies and giraffes, two creatures that couldn’t be more different but captured her whimsy and imagination.

Joanne is survived by her stepchildren, Roger “Reg” Echols Garner, Jr. and Cynthia Gayle Garner Billings (and her husband, Warren); five grandchildren, Lindsay Garner Hostetler, Ashley Helen Garner, Warren Billings, IV (and his wife, Carolyn), Victoria Billings Pope (and her husband, Mike), and Kaley Garner Lukas (and her husband, Caleb); seven great-grandchildren, Shaela, Desmond, Amelia, Evan, Eliza, Caden, and Madison; her brother, Charles “Chuck” E. Field, Jr. (and his wife, Grace); and her nephews and niece, Scott Henderson (and his wife, Kate), Laurie Henderson, and Charles “Trey” E. Field, III. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Echols Garner, Sr.; and sister, Alice Field Revis. A celebration of Joanne’s life will begin at 1:00pm on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at Church on the Drive (formerly College Park Baptist Church), 1914 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, Florida. The family will receive friends at a viewing from 12:00pm – 1:00pm, and a reception will be held immediately following the service. Joanne will be laid to rest on Monday, December 23, 2024 in Evergreen Municipal Cemetery, 1975 W. 25th Street, Sanford, Florida. All are welcome to attend both the celebration of life and the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Access Charter School in Joanne’s memory, 6000 East Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32807 or at https://www.accesscharterschool.org/Home/Donations