Joan Helena McCreary, of South Quay Road, Suffolk, passed from this life into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ on Resurrection Sunday, March 27, 2005.

She was born in Palatine, Ill., to Friedrich August Louis Ninnemann and Irene Emma Ninnemann nee Brockmann. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Gail Ninnemann.

She is survived by her husband Byron McCreary of Suffolk; daughter, Barbara Gail Johnson and husband, John Wayne of Franklin; daughter, Rebecca Wright Williams of Virginia Beach; son, Jerry Dale McCreary of Franklin; son, Jeffrey Daniel McCreary and wife, Elizabeth Forbes of Chesapeake; seven grandchildren, Keith W. Johnson, B. Scott Johnson, Kelli L. Johnson, Bethany K. Johnson, Karla F. Johnson, Jonathan P. Wright and wife, Cora, and Ryan J. Williams; her aunt, Leona Lewerenz and husband, Ray of Altoona, Fla.; her cousin, Janyce Freund and husband, Tom of Lakeland, Fla., and cousin, Robert Schroeder and wife, Pat of Peotone, Ill.

After graduating from Columbia Bible College, Columbia, S.C., she began working with the Rehoboth Mountain Mission, teaching the Bible to many children in remote schools and churches in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky.

Following her marriage in 1960, she continued to serve Christ as a Bible teacher, church organist/pianist, choir director and piano teacher.

For many years she was the pianist/organist at Community Baptist Church in Suffolk. Later she served, until a few months before her death, as pianist/organist and choir director of Trinity Christian Church in Suffolk.

She was a member of the Tidewater Music Teachers Association and a member of Trinity Christian Church.

One of her greatest loves was teaching young people to play the piano. For over 40 years she has given private lessons in her home.

Her family express their gratitude to her many friends and medical personnel who have been so good to her.

Thank You!

Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today in the R. W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. Ralph Green and the Dr. John Kimball, at 2 p.m. Thursday at in the funeral home with burial following in the Holland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, you may wish to make a memorial donation to the Joan McCreary Memorial Fund, Trinity Christian Church, P.O. Box 1736, Suffolk, VA, 23439. Condolences may be left at www.rwbakerfh.com