JoAnn Bowles Stoker

JoAnn Stoker, age 88, of Fort Mill, SC, went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 with family near. JoAnn was born in Davie County, NC, to Nina Velna Naylor Bowles and Thomas Masten Bowles on September 16, 1937.

JoAnn graduated from Farmington High School, where she was co-captain of the women’s basketball team, averaging more than 35 points per game her senior season. She was proud of being able to shoot a hook shot with either hand and particularly liked a quote from an article in the Winston Salem Journal and Sentinel which described her as “especially tough when heavily guarded.”

She met Gerald (Jerry) Stoker, her loving husband of 62 years, on a blind date set up by a mutual friend. They were married within a year. As Jerry tells it, “I married the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.” JoAnn was an accomplished seamstress and gardener, but her true passion was spending time with family. She loved being a mother to her daughter Jamie and son Jim. No matter the season, JoAnn was always there to cheer for years of concerts and games. She dearly loved being Mimi to her four grandchildren, sharing a love of reading and curiosity and cheering at many more games. She always enjoyed a round of golf, hand of cards, or well-mannered game of dominoes. JoAnn had a passion and gift for bringing her family together – either as a host or traveling with covered dishes in hand – and no gathering was complete without her signature pound cake or pimento cheese.

During the years of raising a family, JoAnn began taking college classes, and in 1981 graduated from USC Spartanburg with a BA in education. While teaching 4-year-old preschool, JoAnn came up with an idea for a book she thought her class would love, and The ABC Book of Flowers for Young Gardeners was published in 1999. JoAnn wrote the prose, and Jerry handled the photography. Together they enjoyed spending time in elementary schools as visiting authors, and JoAnn took great joy in sharing their book with many children and people of all ages.

Active in church all throughout her life, JoAnn’s faith was central to who she was as a person. She loved teaching Vacation Bible School and GAs, being involved in WMU, and for many years was faithful in weekly phone calls to members of her Sunday School class. She set an example for family to live your faith through prayer and study, but most importantly in how you love and serve and treat people each day.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by sisters Nola Jane Bowles, Mary Kathryn Bowles McDaniel, a brother Cletus Odell Bowles, and two nephews, Dwayne Bowles and Jason Bowles. JoAnn is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Gerald (Jerry) Stoker. She is also survived by her daughter, Jamie Stoker Pittman of Charlotte, NC, and son, James (Jim) Price Stoker (Eleanor) of Prosperity, SC, and four grandchildren, Robert Price Pittman, John Stoker Pittman, Grace McLaurin (Gracie Mac) Stoker, and James (Jay) Price Stoker, Jr, as well as special nieces, nephews, and their families.

A service to celebrate JoAnn’s life will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 2:00 pm at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 211 Marvin Road, Indian Land, SC 29707, with a graveside service immediately following in the church cemetery. Afterward, the family will receive guests in the sanctuary.

Flowers are welcome, or donations may be made to the Providence Baptist Church Child Development Center, 4921 Randolph Rd. Charlotte, NC 28211.