Joan Vaughan Bright was born on April 30, 1930 in the Vauxhall section of Union, New Jersey. She was raised in Maplewood and graduated from Columbia High School and then went on to attend Howard University completing two years.

Joan met the love of her life, James Bright and they were married on October 28,1950. Joan and James (Jim) lived in the Maplewood home with her mother, Helen Littlejohn and stepfather, Cleo Littlejohn.

In 1957, Joan and Jim bought a house in Montclair at 16 Gardiner Place. There they raised seven children, Gwendolyn, Shelley, and Stephen (twins), James, Mark, Valerie, and Brian. She loved being a stay-at-home mom and wished her kids stayed little forever. As the kids began graduating high school, she took a job with Blue Cross Blue Shield and she worked there for 25 years. She retired in 1995.

On March 5, 2023 Joan passed away peacefully at home at the age of 92. Joan was pre-deceased by her husband, James and three children: Gwendolyn, Shelley and James. Left to mourn her passing are her four remaining children: Stephen and wife Mirza of Union, Mark in Maplewood, Valerie Lewis and husband Wayne of Kilgore, Texas, and Brian in Montclair. Also, seven grandchildren: Korey,Stephen Il and his wife Jumari, Sean, Andrew and his partner Elsy, Lynsey and her husband Ruben, James (L) and his wife Keshia, and Brianna. Joan was blessed with nine great grandchildren: Alycia, Ruben, Victoria, Sarai, Emery, Andrew Jr., James Jr., Jaxon and Kennedy and host of extended family and friends.