JoAnn Newland Cravens

JoAnn Newland Cravens, 91, of Nederland, Texas passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at her residence in Nederland, Texas. 

JoAnn was born on August 17, 1932, in Denison, Texas to Grace Jennings Newland and Cecil Newland.  She graduated from Denison High School in 1950 and was the class valedictorian.  JoAnn later went to Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas and graduated in 1954.  She was a member of First Baptist Church in Nederland for many years and participated in many church activities and was a very devoted church member; she also was a retired secretary for Wells Payton Law Firm in Beaumont for over forty years.  JoAnn enjoyed quilting and playing the piano and even wrote a song that was produced; she also wrote poems for her family and friends and even created short stories about her family. She was a member of the Nederland Lion’s Club and did volunteer work for the prison system.  JoAnn had a great sense of humor and performed as a comedian around the area.  She once did the Charlie Pruitt show at the Jefferson Theatre in Beaumont.  There wasn’t much JoAnn could not do; she was very talented, devoted and most of all, a loving person.  The one thing that JoAnn loved the most was her family; she was very devoted to them and they loved her dearly.  

Survivors include her son, Joe Kenneth Cravens II and his wife Felicia of Katy, Texas; grandchildren, Toby Tabor and her husband Brian of Nederland, Tony Stafford, Jr. and his wife Christine of Houston, Hannah Cravens of Katy, Megan Edmund and her husband Chris of San Antonio, Lindsey Davis of San Antonio and Chelsea Winfree of New York; great grandchildren, Brycen Tabor and Brody Tabor both of Nederland.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Grace Newland; sisters, Jean Blagg and Joyce Fisher; daughters, Jeanette Stafford and Juliette Davis and her husband Tony Davis; the love of her life whom she was married to for over 58 years, Joe Kenneth Cravens who passed away in 2011.

A gathering of family and friends will take place from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Melancon-Levingston Funeral Home in Nederland.  Funeral Services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Melancon-Levingston Funeral Home in Nederland with burial to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches.