Joanne Churney Bradford

Rocky Mount - 

Joanne Churney Bradford, age 77, passed away Friday, April 10, 2026 at her son’s home in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. She was born on August 20, 1948 in Illinois to Joseph and Susan Churney. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters, two brothers-in-law and three nephews.

Joanne’s journey began in DesPlaines, Illinois where she lived for many years until moving to Lexington, Kentucky after graduating high school. Life then brought her to Locust, North Carolina in 1982 where she lived the majority of her life. Finally, she obtained her wish of living in Scottsdale, Arizona until her health declined and she made her way back to North Carolina.

She graduated in 1966 from Maine Township High School West (Maine West HS) of DesPlaines, IL. During her early years, Joanne was a bartender at Randy's and office personnel at Kwik-Set in Lexington, KY. In 1980, Joanne pursued her cosmetology degree in Kannapolis, NC. She graduated with her Associate’s of Cosmetology in 1982. She was a skilled hairdresser and during her career was a manager of different hair salons, host of a New York City hair show and continued her art with clients until her retirement.

She is survived by her children, Kimberlie Anne Bruner DeValle (Paul) and Joseph E. Bruner (Cheri); grandchildren, Samantha, Amber and Blake; great-grandchildren, Zoey, Roman, Serenity, Savanna, Jackson, Memphis and Montgomery; sisters, Bernice of AZ and Susan (John) of WA; brother, Ed (Pat) of GA; along with numerous nephews and nieces and many, many great nieces and nephews.

Joanne’s wish was to have her ashes spread on the beach of the North Carolina shores during a private ceremony with her family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to an animal charity of your choosing.