Joan Kpeto's Obituary
Joan was born in Washington, D.C., on September 5, 1945, one half of a twin pair, though she would grow up without her sister, who passed away at birth. She was the daughter of Margie Walker and Elton Oliver Walker. She was lovingly raised by her grandparents, Thomas and Mary Rose, in their Adams Morgan home, a place filled with warmth, stability, and deep family roots. She passed away peacefully at home on October 25, 2025, surrounded by her three children.
A bright and creative student, Joan attended Francis Junior High School before continuing to Anna Burdick Vocational High School, where she discovered and refined her gift for sewing. She could spot an outfit she admired and spend the next two days recreating it. Her artistic talents extended far beyond fabric—her drawings won awards, her handwriting flowed like calligraphy, and beauty seemed to follow wherever she placed her hands. After graduating from Dunbar High School, she met and later married Fredrick (Fred) Morris, Jr., building a life grounded in family and faith.
When her children were older, Joan excelled professionally, first at AT&T, then as a supervisor at GSC, and later at Stavrou Associates, where she rose to management, a testament to her quiet determination and grace. In 1982, she married Stanley Kpeto and embraced his family in Ghana with the same open heart she extended to all. Her lifelong friendship with Sandra D. Pone, her childhood best friend, was a testament to her loyalty and warmth.
Joan’s legacy lives in the many things her hands created and in the love she poured into every relationship. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, wife, and friend.
She is survived by her children Dawn Morris, Dean Morris, and Dana Morris (Erin); her grandchildren Kaylee Morris (Joe), Kamara Morris, and Kai Morris; her great-grandchildren Zayden Joseph Casucci and Aviana Joan Casucci, who carries her name forward into the future; and her siblings Brenda Price, Saundra Walker, Lydia Wingfield, and Gale Atlas (Edwin). She is reunited with her twin, her beloved grandparents, her parents, her brother Maurice “Butch” Walker, and her dear friend Sandra.
We love you, and you will be truly missed.
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