JoAnn Beasley Bernhardt

JoAnn Beasley Bernhardt, 90, of Salisbury, passed away peacefully in her sleep May 24, 2026 at Sherrills Ford Hospice House. She had been in declining health for the past year. Born January 28, 1936 in Salisbury, she was the daughter of the late Robert Clarence Beasley and Edna Earle Johnson Beasley. She was a graduate of Boyden High School and (Greensboro) Women's College. After college she worked for Norman's Custom Drapery. She later worked as secretary/treasurer for the First United Church of Christ. She was a woman of strong faith being raised at First Baptist Church and was an active member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church after her marriage. She enjoyed reading, especially English mysteries and current events, and her bridge club. She was also a proud and fierce defender of all animals, which she passed on to her children. She was very active in her children's school activities, sporting events and scouting activities. She taught her children to show respect for themselves and everyone they encountered, known and unknown, regardless of status or station in life. EVERYONE. No exceptions. She also encouraged them to have their own opinions; common or contrary. Just be able to explain and defend it. She loved connecting with people and laughing - especially at herself. Like many southern women of her generation, she could talk to ANYONE for ten minutes about something. One of her family's favorite stories is about the several times a seeming stranger called the house phone by mistake. And she would end up in a ten-minute conversation, helping the other person figure out the correct phone number and who they knew in common. By the time they hung up, there were no strangers. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Henry Crenshaw Bernhardt and a brother, Robert Earle Beasley. Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Linn Bernhardt of Salisbury, John Bernhardt (TJ) of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Matt Bernhardt (Terri) of Beech Mountain; and daughter, Laura Bernhardt Smith of Salisbury; grandchildren, Austin Smith (Lindsay) of Manhattan, NY and Davis Locklear-Smith (Amelia) of Saranac Lake, NY. The family would like to thank Carolina Caring Hospice Services and the home healthcare team, led by Dane Ramsey and Mary Mason, for their loving care of our mother. The funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2026 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Burial will follow at Chestnut Hill Cemetery. A brief visitation will be held in the Parish Hall at noon, prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels of Rowan,720 Grove St, Salisbury, NC 28144 or http://mowrowan.org. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Bernhardt family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com

JoAnn Beasley Bernhardt

January 28, 1936 - May 26, 2026