JoAnn (Craver Eidenberger) New

Esther JoAnn Craver Eidenberger New passed peacefully in her home in Arcadia, North Carolina on February 28, 2021 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, and Congestive Heart Failure. She was born at her family home in Davidson County on March 9, 1933 to the late Lonnie Mercy Craver, Sr. and Ida Isabelle Fishel Craver.

She graduated from Arcadia High School in 1951 and then attended Ashmore Business College. She worked in Winston-Salem for Wachovia and then met the love of her life – Walter Richard Eidenberger (Wally). They married on June 11, 1955. He preceded her in death in 1973. She then married Reverend Thomas Gabriel New in 1979 and preceded her in death in 1983.

In the early years of her marriage to Wally (who was currently with the Marine Corps), she worked an office job in Washington, D.C. After adopting their daughter Linda in Fayetteville, NC, Wally was transferred to Charlotte, NC and they adopted Richard. He was then transferred to Augusta, Georgia where they lived for five years. She was a homemaker who took loving care of her family. She also was a member of the Augusta Garden Club because she loved gardening.

Wally was then transferred to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1968. Family was always of upmost importance to JoAnn and the goal was to move the family to Arcadia where she was born and raised. While in Raleigh, she was a keypunch operator for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Wally passed in 1973 from lung cancer and she moved her family to Arcadia – where she always yearned to return.

She built a new home and stayed home to take care of her children and attend their school and church events. She returned to work in 1980 as her daughter Linda attended college. She started working for McDonald’s in Clemmons in 1980 and worked there as a cashier for 35 years. Although offered management positions over the years, she refused because she wanted to be home at night and on weekends. She had many regular customers who loved her and she received many honors while working there – including: multiple times as “employee of the month”; employee of the year; and write-ups in the local paper. She was a loyal, dedicated employee with a strong work ethic. Her picture hung in the entrance for many years and she was a familiar, well-respected employee of the company.

Aside from gardening – flowers and produce – she loved to sing and listen to music. She always sung in the choir – soprano, alto, or tenor. She was in a trio with her sister Kate, her dear friend Barbara (and occasionally her daughter Linda), with her oldest sister Viv playing the piano and they sung in many festivals and church events. When she was ten years old, her parents bought her a piano and she learned to play piano and her daughter has had that piano for years. In high school, she played basketball and she always enjoyed watching football and basketball on television. She loved antiques and attending auctions, flea markets, and antique shoppes. Watching birds was a hobby and she used binoculars and books to identify the many different species in her yard. Speaking of her YARD, she was extremely particular about the way it was mowed. SHE wanted to mow it as long as she was able. In high school, her senior superlative was “the neatest” because she always maintained a neat appearance and insisted on her home being superiorly clean and straightened. As often as she could, she sat outside on her swing and enjoyed her flowers; watching the birds; hanging out with family and friends who stopped by; and watching TRAFFIC on Sunset Road and Highway 150. She loved observing the “comings and goings” of family and friends.

She had a strong faith and was always involved in her church. In Raleigh, she attended Cokesbury United Methodist Church pastored by Tommy McKay and sung alto in the choir. After moving to Arcadia, she returned to her home church – Mt. Olivet United Methodist – where she continued singing in the choir for many years.

JoAnn is survived by her children, Linda (Sam) Eidenberger McKay and Richard (Sandy) Eidenberger. She loved her two granddaughters dearly – Whitney (Trekker) Gray and Macy Eidenberger. She was very proud of these two and all of their accomplishments. She also leaves her two precious great-grandchildren – Lincoln and Salem Gray. Her step-grandchildren include Jason McKay; Jessica McKay; and Justin McKay. Her step-great grandchildren are Tevin Gray; Jordan McKay; and Elysa Vu.

She was the youngest of six children and she loved her siblings very much. They and their spouses all precede her in death: Vivian Craver Hutchens; Edna Craver; Lonnie (Mary) Craver, Jr. – “June”; Kate (Clarence) Craver Beck; and Hubert (Margruette – “Pete”) Craver, Sr.

Her nieces and nephews meant the world to her. She wasn’t much older than some of them and they thought of her as an older sister. She was always “Jo” or “Aunt Jo”. She enjoyed all of the many covered-dish get togethers held at their homes or at church throughout the year: Martha Ann Craver Redden; Jimmy (Billie) Craver; Steve (Loretta) Beck; Sandy Craver Carter; Richard (Elaine) Craver; and Judy (Rick) Craver Everhart. Two of her favorite nephews preceded her in death – Larry (Delane) Craver and Nick (Mary) Beck. The rest of her special nieces and nephews who she ate lunch with after church almost every Sunday for years include: Robert (Cheryl) Craver; Charles (Kathy) Craver; Dennis (Fran) Craver; Hubert (Pat) Craver, Jr. – “Hubie”; and Karen (John) Craver Foy. She cherished her time with each of them and they brought her great joy. She has numerous beloved great and great-great nieces and nephews who were special to her.

She also leaves very special friends, especially Barbara Berrier with whom she talked almost each day and shopped and ate out together often, and her cousin Evva Foltz Hanes. (Evva’s Moravian Cookies were always a family favorite. This past Christmas, she kept reminding us that “you need to go pick up Evva’s cookies!!”) Her dear friend Joanne Sealey precedes her in death. They worked for many years together at McDonald’s in Clemmons and JoAnn’s family definitely considered her part of their family.

She tolerated but enjoyed her grand-dogs – Riley, Charlie, and our late Arby.

Carolina Cremation Center is respectfully serving JoAnn’s family. A celebration of life service will be held at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 1st, 2021. It will be a graveside service beginning at 11:00 a.m. There will be limited seating; therefore, if you are unable to stand, feel free to bring a lawn chair. The family will gather at 12:00 for lunch at the picnic shelter to continue celebrating her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor and memory to: Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, 1082 Community Road, Lexington, NC 27295, and earmark “Youth Fund”; Vision Dance and Cheer Ministry – www.visiondance.org; or Special Olympics Davidson County – Monica.byerly@davidsoncountync.gov

Aside from submitting online condolences, you may also send cards and/or visit the home of her daughter at 9225 N. NC Hwy 150, Clemmons, NC 27012.

She will be missed; however, she knew her Lord and was ready to head to her eternal reward where she is now dancing with family, friends, and Jesus. She is no longer in pain. She is at peace and so is her family because they no longer have to witness her suffering. Thanks be to God.