JoAnna Hudgins Gilmer

Mrs. JoAnna Hudgins Gilmer, 1209 Cedar Creek Dr., Asheboro died Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at North Carolina Baptist Hospital. Memorial service will be 11:00 AM, Friday, July 31, at Central United Methodist Church, Asheboro. Born in Chula, Ga, March 10, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Ethlene Hicks Hudgins Bowen and Charles "Cholly" Hudgins. Always committed to education, she was a graduate of the University of Ga with a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology, and obtained an Educational Administration graduate degree from UNCG. She was an Instructor in Speech at UGA, Director of The Charity League Speech Center, Valdosta, Ga, and had a speech pathology private practice in Lexington, NC. She served as a Speech Pathologist in Chesterfield County Schools, Richmond, Va and at Randleman Elementary School and was the Assistant Principal at Southwest Randolph Middle School and Principal at Coleridge Elementary School. JoAnna was an active member of First United Methodist Church, Asheboro. She was a Stephen Minister, member of the Agape Sunday School Class, Jubilees and served on a number of committees. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Surviving are husband, Jimmy Wilton Gilmer of the home, daughters Ellen Thurmond and husband Paul Aron of Richmond, Va, Heather Thurmond of Springfield, Va, and Leslie Womeldorf and husband Craig of Lancaster, Pa and son Charles "Cholly" Gilmer and wife Heather of Asheboro, three grandchildren Hannah Gropper of Richmond, Va, Samuel and Alyssa Womeldorf of Lancaster, Pa. The family will receive friends at Pugh Funeral Home on Thursday, July 30 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Memorials may be made to the Building Fund, First United Methodist Church, 224 North Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 or Wake Forest University, Health Services, Comprehensive Cancer Center, c/o Office of Development, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1021.