Joan “Joni” Martin, 81, of Jackson, Tennessee, formerly of Paris, died Friday, July 14, 2023, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
Joni was born Wednesday, October 1, 1941, in Houston, Texas, to the late Harry S. Ragland, Jr., and the late Lucille Esther Heidrich Ragland.
She graduated from high school in Stuttgart, Arkansas, in 1959. She attended Arkansas State Teacher’s College in Conway, Arkansas, and went on to attend and graduate from Draughon’s School of Business in Memphis, Tennessee.
Joni was a member of First Methodist Church in Paris where she was a longtime member & treasurer of the Moving Methodist Women’s Circle.
She was an avid bridge player and attained Life Master Status in Duplicate Bridge.
She formerly worked at First Presbyterian Preschool in Paris for several years.
She was married Friday, September 7, 1962, to Edward E. “Ed” Martin, who survives, of Jackson, Tennessee.
Along with her husband, she is also survived by one daughter: Melanie Bell, of Paris, TN; two sons: Todd (Christina) Martin, of Franklin, TN, and Scott Martin, of Medina, TN; three sisters: Judy (Jack) Jacobs, of Stuttgart, AR, Janice Ragland, of MA, and Joyce (Tom) Roth, of Stuttgart, AR; five grandchildren: Hunter (Olivia Mayoza) Bell, Brandon (Zoe) Martin, Willow Martin, Hawk Hostetter, and Falcon Hostetter; and three great-grandchildren, Ace Martin, Sunny Martin, and Haven Hostetter.
Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap Street/PO Box 788, Paris, TN 38242.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 20, 2023, from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm at Ridgeway Funeral Home.
Cremation will follow visitation.
Memorials may be made to any local animal shelter or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.