Joan Taylor Obituary

Taylor, Joan E. Chatman

In Loving Memory

Joan E. Chatman Taylor, October 1, 1923 - June 16, 2024.

A centenarian, Joan broke down many barriers as an African-American woman working in high levels of management and administration.

Joan was the second of four children born to Herman and Hazel Curtis. Named after Joan of Arc, her parents could foresee a future of determination, strength, high achievement, and service to others.

After moving to Washington D.C. from Michigan, Joan earned a BS degree in Commerce and Finance, graduating Cum Laude from Howard University. (1948)

Joan was working for the War Production Board in D.C., when she was asked to travel to China where she worked for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) (1945-47).

Joan spent most of her adult years in Chicago. She was one of the first African-American women to receive a MBA in Personnel Administration from the University of Chicago (1952).

In 1950, Joan married Melvin Chatman. They were married for over 30 years, during which time they adopted and raised two children, Susan and Barry Chatman.

Joan's main career was Director of the Chicago Urban Youth Program called Double E (Education & Employment). Joan was instrumental in creating curriculum to develop personal, academic, social and employment skills for high school "dropouts".

In her later years (1986), Joan married George A. Taylor, a Tuskegee Airmen pilot. They enjoyed over 20 years together traveling the world and working with Chicago's Tuskegee Airmen DODO Chapter.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Susan Chatman, along with loving friends, caregivers, nieces, and nephews.

Affiliations:

A.K.A. Theta Omega Chapter Sorority:

Co-Leader of Theta Omega's "Adopt a School Program"; Chairman, Sorority Relations; Historian; Chairman, Political Action; Chairman, Protocol; Chairman, Courtesy; Chairman, Fileo.

Tuskegee Airmen DODO Chapter:

First woman to chair the National Convention in 1994; Created the logo and motto "From These Roots Build Tomorrow", which was adopted by all the Tuskegee Airmen chapters.

Executive Board for Mary Thompson Hospital, The Chicago Child Care Society, Metropolitan YWCA, and Central Medical Health Center.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Joan's AKA Sorority Motts Endowment that helps second-year college students who are majoring in Education.

Link:

https://donate.akaeaf.org/pages/endowment-donation-form-a-d?fid=%2b5E9hpReF7g%3d&fdesc=Vp5OWRifgJM%3d

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