Joanna Breedlove Crane, age 83, of Montgomery, Alabama died on the November 23, 2013. She was born on August 19, 1930, in Montgomery, Alabama, the daughter of John William and Willora Breedlove. She is preceded in death by her husband, William H. Crane, and her brother, John W. Breedlove, Jr. She is survived by her brother, Hal A. and Vivian S. Breedlove, of Beaumont, Texas; nephew, Mike (Brooks) Breedlove of Prattville; niece, Pam (Ben) Nichols of Birmingham; nephew, Ken (Debbie) Breedlove of Singapore, nephew, Bill Breedlove of Corona Delmar, California; stepdaughters, Jean Adams of Columbus, Ga; Anne Kelliher of Montgomery, Betsy Hornaday of Verbena, and Vicky Allen of Bucyrus Ohio.

Joanna grew up in Montgomery and graduated from Sidney Lanier High School, then Huntingdon College prior to attending Southern Methodist University for a graduate degree in foreign languages. After graduation she began her career teaching French and History in Montgomery high schools. She then became a foreign language consultant at the Alabama Dept. of Education and then became Interim Director of Foreign Languages for the State of Alabama.

During her state tenure she was involved in activities including study in France, post-graduate studies at various universities including the University of Alabama, Auburn Vanderbilt and Harvard. She was active in professional foreign language organizations including ACTFL, NCSSFL, AATF SCOLT and AAFCT. She received the SCOLT Founders Award for Teaching and the Florence Steiner Award for Leadership in Foreign Language Education. Other accomplishments included Keynote Speaker at the Oklahoma Foreign Language Teachers Association, keynote speaker at the Virginia Foreign Language Conference, and interviewer for Fulbright Scholarship Potential Recipients.

Joanna's community service involved her activities in various committees at the First United Methodist Church in Montgomery, including lay speaking at local retirement homes; involvement in Soroptimist International, for which she was president of the Montgomery Chapter, Lt. Governor of the Southern Region and Governor of the Southern Region.

Special feelings are extended to Valerie Cook for her loving care. Visitation will occur on Tuesday, November 26, at Leak-Memory Chapel, 945 Lincoln Road, Montgomery, Ala., at 10:00 am, followed by services celebrating Joanna's life at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, Alabama, 36106. Contributions may also be made via http://www.fumcmontgomery.org. On line condolences may be made at www.LEAK-MC.com.

Published in the Montgomery Advertiser on Nov. 25, 2013