WILMINGTON — JoAnne Foster Mathis, 79, passed away Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019.
JoAnne was born Dec. 6, 1939, at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, to the late Bille McCorkle Foster and George Wesley Foster Jr. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Carl N. (Chick) Mathis Jr.; and dog and best friend, Buster Mathis.
JoAnne attended Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia. She also attended the University of Georgia, where she graduated in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. In 1963, JoAnne went to work for the U.S. Department of Labor in Atlanta. She was instrumental in opening the office in Wilmington for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division in 1965. She worked as a wage and hour compliance officer until her retirement in June 2000.
When she moved to Wilmington, JoAnne met her husband, Carl (Chick) Mathis. They married Nov. 22, 1969. JoAnne was a member of St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, Cape Fear Country Club and Carolina Yacht Club. She was a former member of the Cape Fear Garden Club.
Surviving are her daughter, Meredith Vance Mathis of Alexandria, Virginia; sister, Judith Foster Tighe, and her husband, Bruce, of Laguna Niguel, California; and nephew, Brett Foster Tighe, and his wife, Heather, and their son, Barrett, of San Francisco, California. JoAnne is also survived by Vermell Taylor, who has been an integral part of the family since 1978.
A burial service will take place at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 31, at Oakdale Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at noon at St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church with a reception following.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1416 Market St., Wilmington, NC 28401; or charity of your choice.
Share online condolences with the family at Wilmington Funeral & Cremation.
