Heaven has greeted a special servant! Joanna Meade Milliken passed away May 24, 2026, to join those friends and family resting before her. In her earthly journey, she went by Joanna, Jo, mom, grandma, and most lovingly GiGi Jo.
Joan Elizabeth Meade was born Aug. 7, 1931, in Roanoke. She was the daughter of Robert Byron and Reba Wray Meade. She was predeceased by them and a brother Robert, sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Charles Nichols, brother-in-law, Frank Romano, and former spouse, James P. Milliken. She is survived by her sister Shirley Romano of Roanoke and brother-in-law, Rey Neville of Vero Beach, Florida.
Joanna was an artist, a golfer, a bowler, a cook, a homemaker, a dog lover, and most of all a devoted mother. Joanna was a woman of great faith and spent many years volunteering at several churches she attended over her life. She lived many years in the Philadelphia area and in her favorite Florida home in Vero Beach. She resided at Warm Hearth Village in Blacksburg at her passing.
Special thank you to the staff and support at Showalter Center, Kroontje Health Care, and Good Samaritan Hospice. Thank you to the caring doctors, nurses, and assistants at LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery.
Joanna leaves behind a loving family – Dianne and Tom Wilkinson, Abingdon, Virginia, Sandie and Gary Worley, Blacksburg, George and Martie Milliken, Annapolis, Maryland, Betsy and Steve Erisman, Nantucket, Massachusetts, Jim and Julie Milliken, Hebron, Maryland, 15 grandchildren and 26 great-grands.
A service of life celebration will be held at a future date.
