The Rose Garden Weeps: Farewell to a Martinsville Matriarch

The community of Martinsville, Virginia, is submerged in profound grief and quiet sorrow following the peaceful passing of their cherished matriarch, Joan Eanes Newman. Born and raised in Henry County, Joan passed away on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Her life was a testament to dedication, faith, and the simple, enduring pleasures of family and community. Her passing, though peaceful, leaves a shocking void given her immense legacy built over nearly nine decades of devoted service and love.

The Agony of the Absent: A Legacy of Love and Labor

Joan Eanes Newman lived a life defined by unwavering commitment. For 39 years, she was a fixture at Tultex, where she worked diligently in the finance department, simultaneously lending her invaluable bookkeeping talents to the family’s enterprise, Newman Lawn Mower Service. Beyond her professional devotion, her life was anchored by faith as a devoted member of Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church. She now joins her beloved husband, Fred L. Newman, Jr., and several siblings, a heartbreaking reunion that leaves her surviving family—her devoted son Reggie, daughter-in-law Joyce, and proud granddaughter Angie Donley—to navigate an immense, immediate grief. The community is left to contemplate the cruel finality of losing a soul who embodied the very spirit of Martinsville’s work ethic and familial dedication.

An Anchor in Remembrance: Cherishing the Roses She Grew

To truly honor the memory of Joan Eanes Newman is to embrace the passions and principles she championed. She was known for her incredible “green thumb” and found immense joy in gardening, particularly in growing beautiful roses, a love that led her to join the Patrick Henry Rose Society. Her legacy is one of gentle beauty, quiet strength, and service—a commitment to her church (Mt. Calvary Pentecostal Church) that her family is honoring by requesting memorial donations be directed to its Building Fund. May the collective support, prayers, and deep compassion of the Martinsville community serve as an essential anchor, providing solace and unwavering strength to her family as they prepare for her service on Sunday, November 9, and burial on Tuesday, November 11, and strive to cherish the memory of their beloved Joan.