Joanne Christian Modlin

Joanne Christian Modlin died on October 23, 2025, at Williamsburg Landing in Williamsburg, VA. She was born on April 7, 1933, in Bristol, VA, and resided in Smithfield, VA for most of her life.

She graduated from Smithfield High School, attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, and earned Phi Beta Kappa honors at UNC-Chapel Hill where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She taught high school in Smithfield, Virginia Beach, and seventh grade in Hinesville, GA. She was later active in real estate for many years. She was a long-time member and chairperson of the Smithfield Historic and Architectural Review Committee as well as a past board member of Ivy Hill Cemetery. She became member emeritus of the Smithfield Shakespeare Class after more than forty years of participation.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe David and Alice Luter Christian, brother Robert Christian, and great grand-daughter Elizabeth Naomi Arnold. She is survived by her husband of seventy years Charles Robert Modlin, sons and daughters-in-law Robert Christian and Paitra Moore Modlin, Brian Davis and Nancy Spady Modlin, grandchildren Charles Christian Modlin, Christina Grace Modlin, John Devin Arnold and wife Hannah Bradshaw Arnold, and great-grandsons Phineas Brock Arnold, Woodrow Hundley Grey Arnold, and Lawrence Alexander Arnold. Other surviving family members include her brothers and sisters-in-law, William L. and Susan Abbott Christian, Dr. Joe D. and Ann Claborne Pope Christian, John G. and Harriet Ziegler Christian, Cynthia Rotty Christian, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held at a later date. Instead of flowers, please donate to the Western Tidewater Free Clinic at 2019 Meade Parkway, Suffolk, VA 23434, or to a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com