Mrs Joan Sharon Mangrum

Joan Sharon Heller was born July 13^th, 1950 to Adolf Seymour Heller and Corinne Rose Levy in Chicago, Illinois. When she was four her parents moved to Skokie, Illinois where she grew up and attended Niles North High School. She met her lifelong friend Marcia Orloff, who was more like a sister at age 8.

Joan attended University of Illinois for her Bachelor’s Degree, and got her Master’s Degree from Michigan State. By the time Joan attended Michigan State, she had become a Michigan resident. Joan met her future husband, James Mangrum, at ski club in Michigan. James Mangrum married Joan Heller in 1985, and she became Joan Mangrum. They were married 39 years, only to be separated by James’ passing in 2024.

In 2002 when James retired from Ford, they moved to North Carolina, because they were both avid golfers. Throughout Joan’s life she made the most of it, making friends wherever she went. While in N.C. Joan made several close-knit friends while golfing. bowling, and playing Mah Jongg. Joan was a volunteer to the U.S. Kids tournament. Joan was a very active member of the Pinebluff Lion’s Club, which helped support the Pinebluff Food Bank. Joan never met a person who did not become a friend. Her lifelong friend, now Marcia Marinello, never left her life. Marcia’s three children called Joan, Aunt Joan. Joan and Marcia talked weekly even though they lived in separate states, and they created Cakes in a Jar, which they ran together for many years. Although they met later in Joan’s life, Lois Smart was like a sister to Joan.

Joan lost her parents, Adolf and Corinne Heller. She also lost her husband James Lowell Mangrum, and her brother-in-law, Alvie Philley. She is survived by her older sister, Barbara Heller Philley. Even though Joan never had children of her own, she is also survived by her nephew, Alan Philley, and niece Monica Miller, who she treated as her own children. She has three grandnephews, Korey, Kasey, and Kameron Miller. She also has a great grandnephew, Kohen Miller and great grandniece, Berkley Miller, who are Korey’s children. Joan is also survived by Jim’s son, Jamie Mangrum, who has a daughter and grandson who she treated as her own, granddaughter and great grandson. Joan is also survived by Marcia Marinello and Lois Smart, who were her sisters, not by blood, but in Joan’s heart.

Joan had been in and out of First Health Moore Regional Hospital for most of 2025, and briefly out toward the end of 2025. She entered First Health Moore Regional Hospital in mid-January of 2026 and was there until transferred to First Health Hospice House, where she passed on Sunday, March 29^th after only being there about 24 hours. When Joan passed, Barbara Philley, Alan Philley, and Lois Smart, were by her side. Following Joan’s wishes, she was cremated, and no service or viewing were held.

Services are entrusted to Powell Funeral Home & Crematory of Aberdeen.