Mrs. JoAnn Barnes Floyd was born July 13, 1944 in Greensboro, Florida to the late Addie B. Barnes. She was reared by her grandmother, Effie Keller.
She confessed Christ early in life and joined Community Baptist Church in Fairfax (now Valley), AL. She later united with St. Stephens C.M.E. Church where she remained a faithful member until death. JoAnn had the God-given talents of singing and playing the piano. At the age of sixteen, she began using her musical talents playing for church choirs – an endeavor that lasted for 55 years. Her services were rendered to St. Stephens C.M.E. Church, Community Baptist Church, Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, Evergreen Baptist Church, Zion Rest Baptist Church, Davis Memorial Mortuary, and of course, The Floyd Sisters. In 1971, she founded the singing group, The Floyd Sisters which included herself as a vocalist and pianist , her daughters, Mershilia and Felicia, her sisters, Gwen and Dephne, her mother, Addie Bee and Arthur James Floyd, Jr. and Robert Chambers, her son and nephew respectively, as percussionists.
They sang and toured together for over two decades with her husband, Arthur J. Floyd, Sr. as their Manager. Mrs. Floyd was honored for her years of faithful service on Saturday, August 29, 2015 – an honor hosted by St. Stephens C.M.E. Church.
JoAnn was educated in Chambers County, Alabama. She graduated from Rehobeth High School, Class of 1962. While in high school, she was a majorette. She attended Opelika Technical School before matriculating at Southern Union State Jr. College where she earned the Associate Degree in Early Childhood Development. She then began her career as an Early Childhood Teacher at the Five Points Child Development Center. She later transferred to the Chambers County School System and then the Chambers County Community Action Center Cusseta Headstart where she remained until her health failed in 2004.
In 1963, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Mr. Arthur James Floyd, Sr. This union was blessed with five children – Mershilia, Felicia, Miranda, Arthur, Jr. and Zikia. In addition to her musical passions, she also enjoyed talking! Her hobbies included crossword puzzles, watching the Game Show Network, shopping, going out to eat and going to movies.
On Friday, September 1, 2017 at EAMC-Lanier Memorial Hospital in Valley, AL, JoAnn Barnes Floyd was commissioned to sing in the Heavenly Choir. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Miranda LaShell Floyd; sister, Jane Zachery; and, brother, Willie Frank Madry, Jr.
She leaves to cherish wonderful memories: her husband of 54 years, Arthur J. Floyd, Sr.; four devoted children, Mershilia (Rodney) Heard, Valley, AL; Felicia (Jeffery) Brown, Montgomery, AL; Arthur, Jr. (Metia) Floyd, Mauldin, SC and Zikia Floyd, Valley, AL; grandchildren, Rokei Winston, Joaski Winston, JaMyia Floyd, Shyneice Floyd, Zyan Murphy Floyd, Amiracus Brown, Nehemiah Floyd, Kayla Heard and Shakeria Green; four sisters, Gwen Thomas, Valley, AL, Barbara Williams and Dephne (Semester) Grimes both of Montgomery, AL and Marionette Carter, St. Petersburg, FL; three brothers, Walter (Virginia) Madry, Valley, AL, Wayne Madry, Statesville, NC and Timothy (Linda) Madry, Tallahassee, FL; a special cousin, Shirley Hervey, Valley, AL; three step-children, Deborah (Don) Turner, LaFayette, AL, Carl (Barbara) Core, Valley, AL and Donald (Daphne) Burton, Lanett, AL; seven step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, David, Sr. (Lottie) Floyd; sisters-in-law, Affie Chambers, Ida McCullough and Edith Coleman; and, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.