Joan M. Galvin, age 85, of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2026.
Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Joan was the beloved oldest daughter of four children of the late Clyde Burnham and Mary Ruth Garrigus Burnham. In High School, her family moved west to New Mexico, where she stayed until she started her own family. Family life took her to Arizona, Nevada, and then she finally settled in California for over 30 years. In retirement, she moved to Arkansas and then finished life in her favorite state, Tennessee.
Joan devoted many years of her career in the Finance Department at Friends Christian School in Yorba Linda, California. She faithfully served others through her work and lived a life guided by compassion and grace. As with all families, there are those family members who can get left out for one reason or another, but Mom was always the one in her extended family who would reach out to everyone, including the forgotten, and remind them they were family and they were loved. This was especially true of her nephews and nieces.
Above all, Joan treasured her family. She leaves behind her loving sons, Jerry Craig and Vernon Galvin, who will forever cherish the love, wisdom, and memories they shared with their mother. Daughter-in-laws Lisa Craig and Carrie Galvin, Grandchildren Ryan Craig, Jill Craig, Dakota Galvin, Madelyn Galvin, Morgan Craig and Lucas Galvin and great grandchildren Wyatt Craig and Leilani Galvin. In addition, she is survived by her sister, Becky Craig, sister-in-law Judy Burnham, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by husband Donald Galvin, stepson Dominic Galvin, and brothers Clyde Burnham and Ernest Burnham.
Early in her youth, our Mom gave her life to CHRIST. Because of her faith, both of her sons and stepson were raised by a Mom who modeled JESUS’ love and subsequently they each made decisions to follow JESUS as well.
Joan moved to Columbia in 2020. In Tennessee, she could easily attend David Jeremiah’s Celebrator’s Conferences and enjoy the music ministry of Charles Billingsley in Pigeon Forge and be in close proximity to regional “Women of Joy” events. Brentwood Baptist Church became her church and she was excited to join the launch team of the Columbia-based Brentwood satellite church, The Church at West End. There she became more involved in the life of the church, serving as a greeter and a vital member of a Life Group. Joan’s life was a testament to faith, hard work, and unconditional love.
In Luke 22:32, JESUS spoke these fateful words to Peter, “But I prayed for you; I prayed that you wouldn’t run out of faith. And, when you turn back again, you must give strength of your brothers.” Shortly after that Peter denied knowing JESUS, but his life was marked by more than his denial. His life was marked by turning back and continuing to faithfully follow JESUS and build HIS Church after the Resurrection. As with most, our Mom’s life of following JESUS was complicated too. She struggled with having a child out of wedlock, divorce, widowhood and divorce. But those are footnotes, her life was marked by always turning back and chasing after JESUS. She NEVER ran out of faith and finished her race faithfully following HIM, even in the midst of fighting cancer these last three years. Her life was truly reflected by the following declarations on her mirror:
GOD, I want to See You
GOD, I want to Hear You
GOD, I want to Know You
GOD, I want to Follow hard after You
Oh, may her story encourage those struggling in their faith to never quit and serve to let others know GOD’s Love for you is greater than you can imagine. There is nothing you can do to keep our Heavenly Father from Loving You!
Though she will be deeply missed, her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and loving her. Thank you to the staff of Williams Funeral Home for the loving care of our Mom, Ms. Joan M. Galvin.
To share words of comfort and condolences, please visit www.williamsfh.com.
