Mrs. Joan Carver Harrison

October 21, 1945 – May 30, 2026

Mrs. Joan Carver Harrison, age 80, of Mentone, Alabama, passed away at her home in Mentone, Alabama, on May 30, 2026, leaving a void that can never be filled. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She loved fiercely and was loved by all who knew her. Joan had a strong faith and love for God and was a member of Mentone Community Church. She is rejoicing today in her new eternal home with her loved ones, in the presence of Jesus. “For me to live, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Joan was born to her parents, Andy Grady and Frances Mildred Carver, on October 21, 1945. She grew up in Rome, Georgia, with her five siblings: Mary Jean, Patricia, Carolyn, Andrea, and Tony.

Joan married her soulmate, Tommy Harrison, on March 19, 1965. The two would eventually move to Mentone, Alabama, in 1973 to raise their family. Throughout their sixty-0ne years together, they welcomed their children, Tommy (Cindy), Jeff (Ashley), Laura (Dwayne), Amy (David), and Richard (Christy), into their family. They also had the pleasure of raising their oldest grandson, Coby (Brittany), as their son.

In addition to Coby, they were blessed with twelve additional grandchildren: Tylor (Alayna), Melissa (Josh), Michael, Austin, Jessica (Chris), Lily (James), Brittney (Jesse), Anthony (Morgan), Samantha, Ethan (Sydney), Jordan (David), and Emma. Joan was also blessed with sixteen great-grandchildren: Luke, Brayden, Ava, Bella, Olivia, Addison, Callie, Blakely, Briley, Millie Kate, Carson, Grace, Carter, Adalynn, Henry, and Coby James.

Joan held many job titles throughout her life; however, none of them compared to being a Mom and Nanny. She was the glue that held her family together. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she was a constant source of support and encouragement to them all.

Over the years, she attended countless school and sporting events, church plays, awards days, graduations, weddings, and birthday parties. Once her children began having children of their own, she was able to retire from working outside the home and devote her time to her grandchildren. She ran her own “Nanny Daycare,” as she like to call it, year-round, and her grandchildren were truly blessed with the very best Nanny.

She was the one who taught them to swim and ride bicycles and was the person they trusted when they needed help pulling a loose tooth. She was the one they all turned to for advice, comfort, and guidance.

Whether it was her children and grandchildren, friends, nieces, nephews, sisters, brother, or neighbors, Joan’s house was the place to be. She loved and enjoyed all of them. Most days, you could find her sitting on her back porch visiting with family and friends. Her swimming pool was always full of children, and the joy she experienced while sitting on that porch watching them swim was evident to everyone around her.

Joan had a love for flowers and spent her time creating and maintaining a beautiful yard. She truly looked for beauty all around her. Two of her favorite activities were tending to her flowers and mowing her grass. When her health began to decline and she needed to give up mowing, she was crushed.

Joan is survived by her children, Tommy, Jeff, Richard, and Coby Harrison, Laura McKenzie, and Amy Rigby. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Harrison Jr.; her parents, Andy Grady and Frances Mildred Carver; and her sister, Mary Jean Brooks.

Although she will be deeply missed, we know she is in Heaven with her beloved husband, Tommy, where there is no more heartache, pain, or suffering. She is in the presence of God and has heard the words, “You may enter in.”

The family is accepting flowers