Joan Bernice Marshall

Joan Bernice “Joni” Marshall, age 55, of Woodstock, GA passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2016. Funeral Services will be held 3pm Tuesday, September 27th at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta.

Joan Bernice Marshall was a light beam and a true fighter in every sense of the word. A fearless warrior in her decades-long battle with cancer, she was also an amazing mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, teammate, co-worker, and so much more.

She would always light up the room with her contagious smile and quirky, upbeat attitude. Never a dull moment when Joan was around. All those whose lives she touched learned from her example to live life to the fullest. And nobody ever even saw her sweat, except on the tennis court, of course.

Joan was a relentless fighter. A normal day might include a game of tennis after radiation, or heading back to the office after chemo. From her smile, one would not know her battles. She moved with grace and laughter no matter the obstacle.

Joan began battling cancer in 1996, but didn’t succumb until 2016. Before the disease could claim her, though, she accomplished many of the objectives a woman her age might set for herself. She saw her elder daughter marry the love of her life, and she studied hard to become an American citizen. Just this year, she saw her younger daughter graduate college and travelled to Florida for a school reunion with women she hadn't seen since the 70's. She travelled to Jamaica with her family, and saw her 92-year-old father, siblings and childhood friends.

She spent her last days comfortably at home with family, full of love where finally she could end her long fight with cancer and Rest In Peace.

Joan was born in Jamaica in 1961 and moved to the States when she was 18. She met her husband Dale in New York in the late 1980s; they’ve been inseparable since 1989. They lived in Rahway, New Jersey until they moved to Woodstock, Georgia in 2003. Joan worked for the City of Marietta’s Fleet Department and belonged to several tennis teams, including the Brookshire Babes and the Meadow Brook mixed doubles team.

Survivors:
Husband: Dale Marshall, Woodstock, GA
2 Daughters: Deneicia Davis, Bronx, NY
Christina Marshall, Atlanta, GA
Father: Leardo Lingard, Jamaica
Sister: Karen Damavandi, California
Harvey Lingard, New York
Anthony Lingard, Florida
Johnny Lingard, Jamaica
Tenny Lingard, Jamaica
The family will receive friends Monday evening, September 26th, from 5pm until 8pm at the funeral home.