Mrs. Joan Castleman (Miller) Short

Joan Castleman Miller Short, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 15, at the age of 93.

Born in Greensboro on February 11, 1932, Joan was the fourth child of Cleon and Miriam Miller alongside her siblings Baldwin, Priscilla, Janette, and Wayne Lee. She enjoyed a lively childhood in a home filled with laughter and love. She graduated from Greensboro High School, and not long after, she met the love of her life, Mark Swain Short, with whom she shared a remarkable journey of more than seven decades.

As a proud Navy wife, Joan became known for her humor, generosity, and “mama bear” spirit. She welcomed everyone with open arms and had a special gift for bringing people together around her table. Her love of a good story, her quick wit, and her steadfast devotion to family and friends will be remembered by all who knew her.

Joan is survived by her devoted husband, Mark Swain; her brother, Wayne Lee (Sandi); and her four sons: Jonathan (Laurie), Mark Lindsay (Anne), Andrew, and Curtis (Sandra). She was the cherished grandmother of Dina (Tim) Regalado, Kristi Short, Jennifer (Chris) Massey, Sarah (Horacio) Saldaña, Sydney Short, and Andrew Tyler (Alyssa) Short. She also leaves behind nine great-grandchildren: Ashley, Ansley, and Makenzie Wallace; Brennon Short; Mark and Max Saldaña; Ava Massey; and McKenna and Keegan Short.

A service to celebrate Joan’s life will be held on Saturday, August 23, at Rehobeth Church. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, followed by the service at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rehobeth Cemetery Fund.

Joan’s family takes comfort in knowing that her life was full of love, laughter, and faith and that her legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched.

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