Joanna Sykes Wilder

Mrs. Joanna Sykes Wilder, age 82, of Murray, Kentucky, died on July 2, 2019, at the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House in Murray, Kentucky.
She was born April 5, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan to Wendell Allbritten and Sadie Wilson Allbritten while they were there for work during the depression. They soon moved back to Calloway County where she graduated from New Concord High School and Murray State University.
Joanna was a teacher and school librarian for over 40 years, 27 with the Calloway County School System and 14 with the Buncombe County School System as a Media Specialist in North Carolina. She loved her students and always enjoyed seeing them and having them speak to her, even after she could no longer remember their name.
She was an active member of the Glendale Road Church of Christ and assisted with the benevolent program. Mrs. Wilder assisted with the Glendale Road Church of Christ Library as well as the Caring and Sharing Program. She was a charter member of the Rho Chapter of the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority and enjoyed volunteering at Angel's Attic.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband, Max M. (Buddy) Sykes who died in 1980.
Joanna is survived by her husband, James Wilder of Murray, Kentucky; her son, Shea Sykes and wife Brenda of Murray, Kentucky; two grandchildren, Josh Sykes and wife Abby of Murray, Kentucky and Kelsey Sykes of Jeffersonton, Virginia; two great-grandchildren, Nola Sykes and Nash Sykes of Murray, Kentucky; one step-son, Bart Wilder of Birmingham, Alabama; two step-grandchildren, Drew Wilder and Micah Wilder of Birmingham, Alabama; two brothers, Hal Allbritten and wife Patricia of Murray, Kentucky and Ike Allbritten and wife Pat of Murray, Kentucky; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 6, 2019, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home with John Dale and Steven Hunter officiating. Burial will follow in the Murray City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., on Friday, July 5, 2019, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071 or the Alumni Association of Calloway County Schools, c/o Leah Evans 337 Candlelight drive, Almo, Kentucky 42020.
Online condolences can be left at, www.thejhchruchillfuneralhome.com