Joan Rabens Walker

Joan Rabens Walker, Charleston, 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep and entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 following a long journey with congestive heart failure.

Her Funeral Service will be held Friday, April 11, 2025, in St. Johannes Evangelical Lutheran Church, 48 Hasell Street at 1:00 pm. Interment to immediately follow in Bethany Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in St. Johannes Evangelical Lutheran Church. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

Born September 5, 1934 and raised in Charleston, Joan was the oldest of four Rabens siblings born to John Henry Louis Rabens, Sr. and Louise Campbell Rabens. They grew up surrounded by Hampton Park and King Street. She attended M. Rutledge Rivers High School. She spent more than forty years of her life working on the Charleston Waterfront and retired from the SC State Ports Authority following thirty five years of service where she worked her way up from Processing on the first floor to Administrative Assistant to the President prior to her retirement in 1997. She was well respected for her hard work, professionalism, dedication and social skills.

Always the socialite, she served as President of the Women’s Transportation Club prior to retirement. Her life was long and full thanks to the love of her life, Howard Walker. They shared a lifetime of happiness filled with traveling, cruises and dancing with their many friends. Joan will be remembered most for her southern warmth and grace. And the impeccable way she loved to dress. Including her time spent at Daniel Pointe Retirement Community until age ninety.

She was lovingly called, Nana, by her grandchildren; Jonathan Byrd (Amy), Jennifer Byrd (Bob), Randall Heffron (deceased), and Walker Heffron (Courtney); and her great granddaughter, Payton Byrd. She gave each of them a piece of her heart to carry with them always in their memories. They will miss her carefully handpicked Hallmark greeting cards sent with “pocket change” in them and her sweet spirit that was seen and felt each time she was with them.

She is survived by her husband, William Howard Walker and three children Gaby Tyler, Terry Byrd and Robin Heffron. Four sisters in law, Nelle W. Spencer, Eloise W. Wade, Michelle Walker, and Becky A. Rabens. Six nieces and five nephews. She is predeceased by her parents; her father in law and mother-in-law Carlton H Walker and Leona H. Walker. Her sisters; Shirley R. Soule, Linda R. Mizzell and her brother, John Henry Louis Rabens, Jr., five brothers in law: Jack Soule, Bobby Mizzell, Robert Walker, Richard Spencer, and John Wade. Two sons, Richard Wayne Tyler and Stephan Howard Walker, a son in law, Dr. Randall George “Randy” Heffron and a grandson, Randall George Heffron, Jr.

The family extends our sincere thanks for the care she received over the years from Roper Hospital , her Cardiologists, Dr. Rieder and Dr. Baker, her Internist for many years, Dr. Marshall and most recently at Daniel Pointe Retirement Community, Dr. John Forney. A special thanks to her Vistelan caregivers at Daniel Pointe Retirement Community and Wren Hospice for helping navigate this last passage in her journey with us.

She loved her church family dearly. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to: St. Johannes Lutheran Church,P.O. Box 21927, Charleston, SC 29413.