JoAnn Murray

On June 22, 2025 our beloved Mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend JoAnn Snowden Murray unexpectedly departed this life following a brief illness. JoAnn was born on December 20, 1949 in Washington DC to the late Alonzo Joseph and Vivian Esther Snowden and was one of seven children. She was preceded in death by her husband Lardy “Butch” Murray, brothers Alvin M. Snowden & Kendall A. Snowden, sister Gwendolyn Snowden Stallworth and sisters-in-law Francis Murray Grimes & Mary Murray Wilkerson, niece Nicolette Ratiff and nephew McKinley Ratiff. JoAnn was raised and educated in Washington DC and was a proud alumni of Anacostia High School class of 1967. After high school she went on to enjoy a long career working office jobs at the Department of Agriculture, Planning Resource Center (where she was introduced to the information technology field and was one of few black women in IT and honed in to the field). She then went to serve as an IT specialist at the National Public Radio (NPR), General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), The Kennedy Center, and Dumbarton Oaks, from where she retired in 2012, finishing out a successful career that spanned over 40 years. In December of 1969 JoAnn and Butch married and had two sons, Damon and Jeffrey. JoAnn was always the social butterfly. JoAnn had a hand in planning high school and family reunions, bus trips, birthday parties, and her treasured “Lunch Bunch” with her girlfriends. JoAnn never shied away from hosting an event and was a champ at finding great deals on food to feed all who attended. She loved hosting Christmas at her house and even though each year she threatened that it would be her last year hosting, she never made good on her threat, always ensuring that the family had the traditional oyster stew. In retirement JoAnn kept busy. She was a realtor, continued socializing with her treasured friends, helped shuttle her grandkids around to activities, enjoyed going to line dance classes and making new friends every Wednesday. She took a heavy interest in politics and caring for plants. While she slowed down on cooking, she never stopped making sure that her grandsons had their “Pooh-Pooh’s” favorite fried chicken, ham, minced BBQ and brownies. She always found time to help neighbors and friends with tasks they were no longer able to do, such as grocery shopping, driving to medical appointments and packing up their homes to get ready for a move. JoAnn was incredibly proud of her family and loved telling her friends all of “her boys” accomplishments. She always took an interest in things going on in her family’s lives and made it a point to ask how your friends are doing, or how was the party you went to on Saturday? JoAnn leaves to mourn; sons Damon (Nicole) & Jeffrey (Tiffanie), grandchildren Jelani, Damon, Quentin, Elijah and Tatyana. Sisters Geraldine & Denise “Necie” and brother Wayne “Stevie” and a host of cousins, nieces & nephews and amazing friends.

Tributes

JoAnn Murray

December 20, 1949 - June 22, 2025