Joan Barfield Mercer

Joan Barfield Mercer, widow of Spencer Dan Mercer, passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, peacefully with her family at her side, at East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro after having spent nearly the past year being tenderly cared for by the staff at Grace Gardens and Ogeechee Area Hospice.

Born on January 17, 1940, in Atlanta, Joan was the daughter of the late Edwin A. Barfield, Sr. and Louise Abigail Coombs Barfield. Before moving to Metter in 2015 to be closer to family, Joan lived and worked throughout the Metro Atlanta area. She was extremely proud of the administrative work she completed for the F. B. I. and the U.S. Forest Service and was grateful to spend 25 years as the secretary to Dr. Robert Whitmire, the Pastor at Lithia Springs Baptist Church.

It should not go unmentioned that for many years Joan was a foster parent. Her generosity, kindness, and enormous heart provided a safe shelter, warmth, love, and a sense of belonging to more than 100 children in the State of Georgia.

Characteristically, Joan was a care giver. Not only to her own children, but to all of those she encountered. When Joan moved north to Murrayville she made a special friend with her neighbor, Shelly Martin. Shelly and her twin daughters, Kendall and Kaselyn, were swiftly considered a part of her own family and were the ones who affectionately donned her with her most favorite nickname: “Mimi”.

Joan is survived by her son, Roman N. Mercer and his wife, Angela, of Metter; her daughter, Alayna D. La Salandra and her husband, Damien, of Leetonia, Ohio; and two grandchildren, Elijah Giddens and Alora Killion.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Joan was preceded in death by her only brother, Edwin A. Barfield, Jr.

The memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel, in Metter.

The family will receive friends from 12 noon until the time of the service at the funeral home on Friday.

Interment will be announced at a later date.

Guestbook: www.kennedyfuneralhomechapels.com

Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel, of Metter is in charge of the arrangements.