Joan Alice Moomau

On January 19, 2023, Joan (Joanie) Alice Leatherman Moomau (Segur), a resident of Annapolis, MD, died after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer and its complications. Joanie and her family lived in Annapolis from 2001 through 2023. She previously resided in the area of Moorefield, WV, from 1975 through 2001.

Born on September 7, 1952, in Troy, PA, she was the youngest of the three children of the late Tracey L. Segur and the late Lois E. Drysdale Segur, both raised in Bradford County, PA. In 1964 Tracey, Lois, and their three children moved to Buckhannon, WV, with all three children graduating from Buckhannon High School.

Joanie is survived by her husband of 34 years, William D. Moomau of Annapolis, and two sons, Albert Roy Leatherman III of São Paulo, Brazil, and Blake Drysdale Moomau of Annapolis. Also surviving are her brother, Dennis L. (Risë) Segur, and her sister, Barbara A. (Jack) Reger, who all live in The Villages, FL; sister-in-law Mollie Prominski (Bill), who resides in Arlington, VA; sister-in-law Betty L. (Jim) Bosley of Old Fields, WV; and brother-in-law George T. (Miriam) Leatherman III of Old Fields, WV.

Joanie is also survived by seven nieces, two nephews, and several great-nephews and nieces. They include Stephanie M. (Greg) Chadwick of Matthews, NC, and their children, Connor and Alex; Brian D. (Erin) Hornbeck of Broadlands, VA, and their children, Ben, Will, and Bronwyn; K.T. Prominski of Arlington, VA; Julie Mead of Oakland, MD, and her sons, Baird and Brooks; Jody (Jeff) Morgan of Vail, CO, and their children, Jack and Taylor; Gretchen (Stephan) Cremann of Moorefield, WV, and their children, Emma and Marcus; Jason (Mary Ann) Riley of Ridgeley, WV, and their children, Ella and Ian; Sarah Leatherman of Old Fields, WV; Eva (Brandon) Hurley of Gray Court, SC, and their son, John David; Julie Dygert of Hurst, TX; and Holly Pape of Apopka, FL, and her son, Jackson. Joanie is also survived by several first, second, and third cousins in NY, SD, and northern PA.

Preceding her in death was her first husband, Albert R. Leatherman II of Old Fields, WV, who passed away in 1986. Also preceding her in death were her in-laws, Kathryn and Lewis Moomau and Nellie and George T. Leatherman II, and her son Bert’s partner, Jackson dos Santos Paiva of São Paulo, Brazil.

Joanie graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1970 and from West Virginia University with a B.S. in elementary education in 1974. She received an M.A. in early-childhood education in 1976 and accumulated 36 post-masters credits in educational professional development. Joanie taught for several years in Upshur, Grant, and Hardy counties of WV. She was on the teaching staff of The Harbour School in Annapolis from 2001 to 2012. She also served as a Harbour School substitute from 2012 until 2017.

Her greatest joy came from raising two extraordinary sons, and she was involved in many of their in-school and extracurricular activities, including church youth, 4-H, sports, Scouts, club trips and camps, and numerous honorary and social activities. Joanie and William loved spending time together talking, walking, hiking, and occasionally dancing in the kitchen.

Joanie was always interested in health and fitness, and as a result, she, along with her sister Barb, co-created and taught the Energetics exercise program throughout Hardy County for many years. She was honored to be selected as Moorefield Elementary Teacher of the Year in 1997, and for many years she was blessed to be a Sunday school teacher at the Moorefield Presbyterian Church. Because of her love for children and literature, she was the creator and coordinator of the Hardy County Public Library storybook hour. She also was a member of the Moorefield Eastern Star.

At an Anne Arundel County, MD, senior center, Joanie voluntarily served as an aerobics instructor. She was a member of the Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, where she served as a lay reader. Interested in all athletics, she was an avid fan of the Baltimore Orioles and WVU teams.

Most importantly, her dedication, empathy, acceptance, and love of teaching children were her passion, especially at The Harbour School, where she assisted at all levels for many years. She taught in a way that was meaningful and uplifting to the child, always being mindful and encouraging of his or her strengths. Her compassion, enthusiasm, and helpfulness in many of the in-school and extracurricular activities were apparent to the entire staff and student body. She mentored teachers and assistant teachers, co-chaired the school’s capital campaign in 2004, served as a medication assistant, and helped with theatrical productions, overnight trips, proms, and graduations, just to name a few. Her smile and cheerful mannerisms were contagious, and she would often pop into classrooms to sing happy birthday to staff members.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Joanie to The Harbour School, 1277 Green Holly Drive, Annapolis, MD 21409.

A celebration-of-life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church at 1281 Green Holly Drive, Annapolis, MD 21409 and at 2:30 PM Sunday, June 11, 2023 a the Fraley Funeral Home Chapel, 107 Washington Street, Moorefield, WV. Inurnment of Joanie’s cremated remains will be in a Columbarium at Olivet Cemetery in Moorefield.