Mrs. Joan Irene Neal Lowry was born to the late Ross Eugene and Mary Lucinda Neal on December 12, 1926, in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was married to the late James Peter Lowry. She departed this life on February 16, 2023.

Irene was the sixth of twelve children. She graduate from Clear Creek High School in 1947. She attended and graduated from Carver College, Charlotte in 1957 and later graduated from Johnson C. Smith University in 1965. She was the first Afro American teacher at Devonshire Elementary School in Charlotte, NC as a second grade teacher in Charlotte from Mecklenburg School System in 1997. She then became a caregiver for her mother, sisters, and brothers. Irene was a long time member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church serving on the Deaconess Board and a member of the choir. Irene loved her family and the Lord. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed.

In addition to her parents and husband, Irene was preceded in death by nine siblings; Minnie Neal Hill, Jerdy Neal, Corrine Neal Bittle, Willie Neal, Carrie B. Neal McClellan, Ruth Neal Fincham, John Ross Neal, Jr., Thomas Neal, and Richard Dean Neal.

With grateful hearts for her kindness and life, but saddened by her passing, she leaves to cherish her memory two brothers, Cecil Neal and Ernest Neal of Charlotte., NC; her loving niece and primary caretaker, Carolyn M. Greene, and many other nieces and nephews and other relatives.