Joanna Pittman Fox

Cashiers NC - Joanna Pittman Fox died at home on August 18, 2013, of a malignant brain tumor. Joanna was born December 4, 1937, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents were Frank Smith Pittman Jr. and Virginia Boyd Pittman, both of Griffin, GA. She moved to Prattville, AL, in 1946. She was graduated from Sullins College Academy in Bristol, VA, in 1955, and then she attended the University of Alabama from 1955‑57. She was one of the first women engineering majors at the university. She ultimately was graduated from Stratford College in Danville, VA, in 1970, where she majored in English. Joanna completed a master’s degree in guidance at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, and engaged in further study in guidance at the University of Virginia.

She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Dr. Edward (Ned) Jordan Fox, Jr., her sons, Dr. John Paul Rutter, III, of Mt. Olive, NC, and Harrison Rogers Rutter (Catherine) of Winston‑Salem, NC, and daughter Dr. Virginia Elisabeth Rutter (John Schmitt) of Framingham, MA, and Washington, DC, as well as Edward Jordan Fox III (Betsy) of Charlotte. She is predeceased by her son Lt. Frank Pittman Rutter, USN (Shannon Rutter Valentine) and her brother, Dr. Frank Smith Pittman III. Other family include Dr. Mike Valentine. She has eight grandchildren: Pitt and Jake Rutter, Ashley and Olivia Fox, Catherine, Jack and Brooke Valentine, and Wesley Bailey. She is survived by her beloved sister‑in‑law, Frank’s wife Elizabeth Brawner Pittman, and nieces and nephews Dr. Tina Pittman Wagers, Frank Smith Pittman IV, Dr. Ginger Pittman Pistilli and 7 great nieces and nephews. Joanna died on the birthdate of her son Pitt, who died 28 years ago.

Joanna was an educator by profession, a community volunteer by avocation, and a mother to many by inspiration. As an educator, Joanna was a leader at several institutions including Charlotte Latin School. She was a teacher, a guidance counselor and college guidance counselor, upper school head, a director of admissions and a director of financial aid. She was past‑president of Southern Association of College Admissions Counselors. She was a dedicated, active servant to the Episcopal Church all of her life‑‑from church organist starting at age 12 to president of the Episcopal Church Women as a young mother, to parish administrator after she moved to Cashiers in 1982, and to altar guild member until age 74.

Joanna had an unparalleled gift for friendship, and was a famous friend to her nieces, nephews, neighbors, colleagues, and most of all to her husband Ned. She was a woman of strong opinions, stunning insight, fierce loyalty, and a remarkably boundless supply of love. She built community wherever she went, and has left behind an engaged, interconnected web of friends, family, and colleagues.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, August 24, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, P.O. Box 32, Cashiers, NC, 28717.

Bryant Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.