Joanne Harvey Hand

Joanne Harvey Hand, 86, passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior on June 5, 2025, at Winter Park Hospital in Florida. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on March 23, 1939, Joanne spent her early years in Upland, Indiana, before moving to Florence, Alabama, where she attended high school and earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of North Alabama. It was in Florence that she met the love of her life, Larrabee “Babby” Hand, Jr., a young engineer working with TVA. They married on June 18, 1959, and together built a life rooted in love, laughter, and faith. In 1961, Joanne and Babby moved to his hometown of Pelham, Georgia, where she would reside for nearly 60 years. It was in Pelham that Joanne became a pillar of the community—as a mother, a writer, and a woman of unwavering faith. She was best known as the heart and soul of The Pelham Journal, where she worked from 1980 until her retirement in 2001 as a News Writer and later Editor Emeritus. A gifted storyteller and thoughtful columnist, she also contributed inspiring articles to Guideposts magazine and later authored the book Dealing with Dementia, chronicling her journey as Babby’s loving caregiver through his battle with vascular dementia. Joanne’s faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life. She came to know the Lord as a young adult and never looked back. Her walk with Christ shaped every decision, every word written, and every prayer whispered—of which there were many. She was a devoted prayer warrior, keeping a list beside her chair until her very last days. Joanne loved to sing, and she joyfully lifted her voice in the choir at Hand Memorial United Methodist Church in Pelham. In her later years, she became an active part of CrossWay Community Church in Orlando. Her Swedish heritage held a special place in her heart, and she treasured a visit to meet her extended family in Sweden in 1957. She often recalled it as one of her most cherished memories. Joanne was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Babby Hand; her parents, Henry Thunmark Harvey and Mae Hester Dougherty Harvey; her sister, Patricia Harvey and many dear friends who she now joins in heaven. She is survived by her sons, Hollis Hand (Sheila) of Asheville, North Carolina and David Hand (Shannon) of Orlando, Florida; three grandchildren, Avery Taylor (Kyle) of Bartlett, Tennessee, Addison Hand of Houston, Texas and Toby Hand of Orem, Utah, as well as beloved cousins, family members, church friends, and readers who were touched by her words and her witness. A celebration of Joanne’s life will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday, June 21st at CrossWay Community Church, 1501 Woodbury Rd., Orlando, FL 32828. To view the livestream video or recording, please check the church website at https://crosswayorlando.org A secondary service at a later date in Pelham, Georgia, is in the planning stages. To share a short tribute or memory of Joanne, please email them to handsalt.joanne@gmail.com where the family will receive them. In lieu of flowers, the family invites gifts to be made to Cru or CrossWay Community Church to help people everywhere come to know and experience the good news of Jesus Christ. 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (Joanne’s favorite verse)

Willis-Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home is in Charge of Pelham arrangements at a later date