JoAnn Homesley Minton

JoAnn Minton, age 91, of Cherryville, North Carolina passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at the Robin Johnson House in Dallas, North Carolina. JoAnn was born on March 23, 1935, in Gaston County to Commodore Broughton and Ruth Lineberger Homesley. She graduated from Tryon High School in 1953 and shortly after graduating moved to Washington D.C. in search of work following her sisters, Marie and Helen. After arriving in Washington, she initially worked for an insurance company for a year and later was able to get a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the administration department.

While at the FBI, she became a supervisor in the administrative section and became responsible for briefing new incoming agents on the administrative paperwork they needed to complete before they started training. In January 1964, she met a newly hired agent, Ernest Minton, who had just arrived from Indiana. They started dating and were married in November 1965. By then Ernie had been assigned to the New York FBI Field Office in New York City. Once married, she headed to New York to work in the FBI office there. They initially lived in New York City and later moved to the suburbs of New Jersey to start a family. When JoAnn became pregnant, she left the FBI after over 10 years of service to concentrate on starting and raising a family.

While in New Jersey, JoAnn and her husband Ernie had their two sons, Kevin and Lane. Ernie's subsequent FBI assignment to Washington D.C. in 1973 took JoAnn and their boys to Springfield, Virginia for several years; and then in 1979 his assignment to North Carolina brought the family to Charlotte where they lived for 43 years.

Wherever she went, JoAnn and her family were involved with their local church. While in Charlotte, JoAnn was an active member of Providence Presbyterian Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher and was an active member of their women's circle. After her children finished school JoAnn went to work for the Charlotte Mecklenburg After School program where she supervised children and served as a teacher assistant for many years. JoAnn also was an avid tennis player and liked to play golf.

When Ernie retired in 1994, JoAnn and Ernie took many trips and traveled throughout the United States.

In 2022, JoAnn and Ernie moved back to JoAnn's hometown of Cherryville to be closer to her family. Upon returning to Cherryville, JoAnn and Ernie joined Shady Grove Baptist Church, bringing JoAnn back to the church she grew up in.

JoAnn is predeceased by her parents; her son, Lane Minton; her brothers, Lewis Homesley, Jim Homesley; and sisters, Marie O'Donnell, Helen Lamoureux, Shirley Wright, and Barbara Homesley.

JoAnn is survived by her husband, Ernest Minton; son, Kevin Minton (Pam); and brothers, Sonny Homesley, Steve Homesley (Cindy), and Larry Homesley (Vickie).

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Shady Grove Baptist Church, with Pastor Dale Hendricks officiating. Burial will follow at Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery

JoAnn’s family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 1:45 PM, prior to the service at the church.

Condolences may be made to www.carpenterporter.com