Joan B. Britton, 94, of Southport, Maine, died peacefully at home on June 12, 2021. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on Dec. 12, 1926, Joan was the daughter of John and Catherine Barbara and was a longtime resident of Southport.

A graduate of The Masters School, Class of 1944, Joan attended Ogontz College, and served as a hospital volunteer during World War II, which sparked a lifelong interest in serving the community. Joan loved the Boothbay region from the moment she came to the area in the 1950s. Upon moving permanently to Southport in 1972, she served the community as a member of the Boothbay Region District Nurses Association and was involved in the Boothbay Region Art Foundation. Joan was a member of the Southport Yacht Club.

A devoted artist, Joan began painting in the early 1970s under the guidance of Alicia Stonebreaker, Chip Chadbourn and Lina Burley. Through her love of art, she made amazing and lasting friendships. In her later years, Joan developed a passion for sculpture and spent many hours at Round Top. In addition, she found great camaraderie at the Southport Memorial Library as part of the morning coffee group and enjoyed all the community had to offer.

Joan was an amazing person. Throughout her life, she had a knack for making friends of all ages, seeing the best in everyone, and keeping an open mind. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, and was a warm and gracious host. Her home was routinely full of grandchildren and their friends, who as well, fondly referred to her as “Grammy.” Until the last few months of her life, Joan lived independently, enjoying running errands around the region and spending time with friends and family.

Joan is survived by four children: Henry Berne and his wife, Leslie, of Southport, Catherine Scott of Lagunitas, California, Lucy Sowell and her husband, Henry, of Fairhope, Alabama, and Charles Britton and his wife, Jennifer, of Southport. Joan was predeceased by her husband, Mason Britton Jr., son, Mason Britton III, and her granddaughter, Connie Sowell. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Joan dearly loved her husband, Mason, and her family. Joan and Mason were devoted to one another for 51 years, raising children, and making a life together. One of many cherished moments was their trip down the Intercoastal Waterway in 1986. They traveled on Gleam, a 34' cruiser that Mason built. Joan was an avid baseball fan, rooting ardently for the Red Sox, rarely missing a game. Her interest in baseball was sparked as a child, where her father regularly took her to Cincinnati Reds games. She vividly recalled the moments she watched the Reds play in Crosley Field, and as a child, kept an autograph book which contained signatures of many star players from the 1930s and ’40s.

A memorial service will be held at the Southport Yacht Club Sunday, Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joan’s name to the Southport Yacht Club Junior Sailing Foundation, The Southport Memorial Library, and Sussman House in Rockland.