Joan Hamby Borders

Mrs. Joan Hamby Borders, age 81, of Carrollton, died Monday, November 5, 2012.

She was born in Dadeville, AL, on April 24, 1931, the daughter of the late William Reuben Hamby, Sr., and the late Hollon Patterson Hamby. A long-time educator, she enjoyed travel, flowers, and many social activities, including bridge.

Mrs. Borders graduated as Salutatorian from Tallapoosa County High School in Dadeville, AL in 1949. She graduated from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL in 1953 with a degree in English and a minor in PE. She started her teaching career in 1953 at Carrollton High School and subsequently taught at other Carroll County schools including Villa Rica and Central. She came full circle back to Carrollton High School, where she retired as a senior English teacher and librarian. She was selected as Carrollton High School Teacher of the Year in 1991.

Mrs. Borders was a long-time Sunday school teacher and member of First Baptist Church of Carrollton, where she served in the Women’s Missionary Union and held various Committee positions. She met her future husband, the late Verne H. Borders, Sr., at First Baptist, where they were later married in 1955. Mrs. Borders also served in leadership roles in many civic organizations.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Mavis Easterwood Schwab and Celia Easterwood, and one brother, Hugh Easterwood.

Survivors include four children, daughters Hollon Borders Vinson (Joe) and Elizabeth Borders Sanders (Bert) and sons James Reuben Borders (Sarah) and Verne Hanson Borders, Jr. (Teri).

She is also survived by ten grandchildren, Charles Matthew Vinson; Celia Vinson Stewart (Ben); Joseph Ross Vinson (Taylor); Laura Hollon Vinson; William Borders Vinson; Savannah Robinson Borders; Margaret Grace Borders; Lily Jing Sanders; Iris Elizabeth Sanders; and Mary Hanson Borders; along with two great-grandchildren, Charles Jackson Stewart and Tyson Paul Stewart. Mrs. Borders is survived by a sister, Sarah Jane Easterwood, a brother William Reuben Hamby, Jr., and a sister-in-law Margaret Borders Northington of Tennille, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Almon Funeral Home in Carrollton. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2012, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church. Dr. Steve Davis will officiate.

Interment will be at the Carrollton City Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the First Baptist Church of Carrollton.

This is a courtesy announcement of May & Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville.