Joanna Tabit was always a positive light in the Charleston Catholic Community. She embodied what Charleston Catholic truly is about through faith, love, and dedication. Joanna, a graduate of the class of 1979, remained a part of our Charleston Catholic Sports Community years later. During her time as a student, she was a part of the high school girls basketball team, and in her senior year, the team was the WVSSAC state champions — the first state championship in Charleston Catholic history — defeating Tyler County (24-1) 56-32. Her nephew, Jeff Reynolds, a recent graduate of Charleston Catholic, said, “She probably liked her time as a fan more than a player.” Her core values were always family and helping the community, as she carried those values into her professional life. After earning her law degree from West Virginia University, Joanna went on to serve as a judge on the Kanawha County Circuit Court beginning in 2014. She was always passionate about her work and fighting for justice, and “never giving up or stopping short of what is right,” Jeff says. One of her most meaningful contributions was her leadership in the juvenile drug court, where young people struggling with addiction were given a chance. For Joanna, being a judge was never about money— it was making a difference. Jeff remembered how she would tease him about the jerseys, backpacks, and sweat suits he brought home from school, saying how her own team never had anything half that nice. She told stories about her basketball days when long trips meant team celebrations at Wendy's. Not only did she have fond memories of being on the team, but valued her family above all else. Her family was everything to her, especially her nephews that she considered sons and the family that she built around her throughout the Charleston Catholic Community. She never missed a baseball or basketball game, and you could always see her bright smile shining in the crowd. Joanna continues to bless, change, and inspire the Charleston Catholic Community to this day. She will always be remembered not only in the Charleston Catholic Community but in the wider Charleston in West Virginia community. She had a spirit of humility, humor, and love. Her legacy is one of faith, family, resilience, and joy. She lived with a fighting spirit and a passion for family, like a true Charleston Catholic Irish alumni. Written by: Olivia Staun