Bereavement and Homegoing

Minister Joan Elaine Wood, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend, and longtime servant of the Lord, was called to her heavenly home on February 12, 2025.

Joan was born on August 13, 1948, to the late Louise (Jones) Ahmad and Leroy Willis in Statesville, North Carolina. She was the oldest of her mother’s eight children. Raised by her grandparents, Joan had a loving and supportive childhood in Statesville and held a deeply close relationship with her grandmother, Flora.

While attending Morningside High School in Statesville, Joan found a deep love for theatre and music. She attended North Carolina Central University, before relocating to Columbus, Ohio in 1970. Joan later received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from The Ohio State University.

Min. Joan spent much of her life dedicated to ministry and serving people. She gave her life to the Lord at an early age and always felt a calling to help others find love and salvation through Jesus Christ. Min. Joan was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio before joining Love Zion Baptist Church where she served as the First Lady and ministry leader for 18 years. She was known for her compassion and unwavering faith and supported various ministry programs, community outreach initiatives, and above all the spiritual growth of the congregation and community. Joan enjoyed singing in the choir and the praise team and especially loved leading the mime ministry. From 1992-2004, Min. Joan served as the artistic director of the Love Academy, an inner-city after-school cultural arts program, exposing community youth to theatre, music, history, contemporary art, and martial arts.

In 2004, Joan moved to Bowie, Maryland with her family and became a member of the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. While at Metropolitan, she graduated from the School for Prophets and preached her initial sermon in 2006 becoming a licensed minister. Joan was the founder and director of the Metropolitan Mime Ministry and served as a member of the Metropolitan Music Ministry and the Leadership Team. Joan was also the founder and artistic director of “Driven by Drama,” a sole proprietorship focusing on the dramatic arts to reach and teach the new generation of youth and young adults.

In addition to her ministry, Joan worked in the banking industry and as a licensed realtor with the State of Ohio for nearly 20 years. She was a program analyst for the Pentagon’s Building Management Office in Arlington, Virginia, monitoring and tracking contract funds for the Washington Headquarters Services before retiring back to Ohio. In 2018, Min. Joan moved to Frisco, Texas, to be closer to her children. It was then that she began attending One Community Church.

Anyone who knew Joan, knew how much she dearly loved her family. She cherished nothing more than spending time with her children and grandchildren and supporting their various activities and events. Joan loved to travel and be near the ocean and thoroughly enjoyed going to her annual family reunions. She was dedicated to health and fitness, always encouraging others to eat healthy foods and exercise. She loved reading, art, running, tennis and playing golf.

Min. Joan was preceded in death by several beloved family members including her mother, Louise Ahmad, grandparents, James and Flora Jones, close aunt, Ruth Woods, brothers, Jerome Baker and Thomas Baker, dear friend, Myrna Russell, and two of the loves of her life, her son Michael Penn and her precious grandson Khalil Evans.

She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Tony (LaDwyna) Evans, and Zula (Nathan) Pierce; daughter-in-law, Kristina King; step-children, Arnika (Ron) Edwards, and Qwann Wood; grandchildren Jalen Hemphill, Kadeem Hemphill, Eleazar Penn, Briana Evans, Cailyn Evans, Xavier Evans, Natalya Pierce, Mila Pierce, Sierra Pierce, Denietra (Tre) Vance, Chanel Clements, Kayden, Journey, Maya and Brayden Wood; and great-grandchildren Khali Evans and Tatum Heller; close aunts, Shirley Weldon, Betty Byrd, and Frances Miller; sisters, Darlene (Robert) Williams, and Diane Mwangi; step-sister, Margaret (Jerry) Singleton; brothers, Robert Baker, David Baker, and Ricky Baker as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and a vast community of friends, church members, and fellow believers who will miss her deeply.

Min. Joan was known for her nurturing spirit, her resolve to speak the truth, and her unshakeable belief in the power of prayer. Though she has passed from this life, the imprint of her spirit and the lessons she imparted will continue to guide all who knew her. May she rest in peace, knowing her legacy will live on in the hearts of those who loved and were touched by her.

Greetings Metropolitan Family,

Please keep Mrs. Zula Evans Pierce and Mr. Walton “Tony” Evans and Family lifted in your prayers in the passing of their mother, Mrs. Joan Evans Wood, a former member of the Metropolitan Family. Final arrangements are pending at this time.

Final arrangements for Minister Joan Evans Wood:

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Wake: 10:00 a.m. Central Time

Service: 11:00 a.m. Central Time

One Community Church

2601 Prairie Dr.

Prosper, TX 75078

(469) 854-1280