Joan M. Harrison

Joan M. Harrison passed away on July 27, 2015 in Decatur, GA. She was born September 30, 1939 in Tampa. Her father, Emmitt Arlington Moore, died when Joan was five. She was raised in Tampa by her mother, Nellie Brown Waller Moore, who passed away in 1960, two weeks before she met her husband William B. Harrison, Jr. Joan and Bill were married 54 years June 11, 2015.

Joan was a long time member of Central Congregational United Church of Christ. She served as church moderator, chaired the board of deacons, filled other leadership roles and many worker-bee as she put it roles during her time at Central Church. She was an accomplished pianist, singer and whistler; loved to sing in the church choir.

Joan graduated from Hillsborough High School in Tampa. She received her BS in Nursing from Florida State University and worked in several hospitals as a registered nurse. After raising her three children William B. Harrison, III Kathryn, Brian C. Harrison, and Susan Harrison Aquino Kurt, Joan returned to school at Emory University to obtain her MS in Nursing. She was a nurse practitioner with specialties in gerontology and mental health. Most of her later career was spent in Emory’s Neurology Department where she served families and patients with Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other brain disorders.

Joan was diagnosed in 2010 with Corticobasal Ganglionic Degeneration CBGD, a movement disorder related to Parkinson’s disease. CBGD was gradually taking away her ability to do the things she loved to do — walk, sing, garden, play the piano, cook and bake, and most of all, care for those she loved.

Despite her declining health, Joan enjoyed, to the end, the company of her personal friends, church friends and professional colleagues. She adored her four grandchildren Jake Harrison, Sara Kathryn Weirwille, Lucy Claire Harrison and Maya Aquino.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to support the Emory Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Program. Please make check payable to Emory Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Program and mail to Emory University, Attention: Katie Dozier, 1440 Clifton Road NE, Suite 170, Atlanta, GA 30322.