Joan Marie Farhood Borland Rainsberger, age 80, died on January 26, 2024, at 5:12 pm EST, at Tidewell Hospice House at Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota, FL from mesothelioma cancer, which she overcame for 6 long years. She was a retired ordained minister and Senior Pastor of First Christian Church in Winchester, VA and then continued her passion for Christ as a Stephen Minister for Parrish United Methodist Church, counseling many who suffered from disease like herself. She counseled and prayed for her family and friends until the day of her death when she rose to heaven to be with her Lord. Joan was a warrior for Jesus Christ and wanted that to be the legacy she left for all who knew her.

Joan was the second daughter of Dolores June Heath and Edward William Farhood and was born in Washington, DC on July 3, 1943. Upon graduation she received her secretarial degree at Washington School for Secretaries and worked as a legal secretary. Joan was quite skilled and typed over 90 words a minute and at every job her bosses felt she was exceptional at all administrative responsibilities. Joan married her first husband, Raymond Leroy Borland of Washington, DC in 1965. She was unexpectedly widowed in 1976 and worked hard to raise her two daughters, Candice Borland Smithyman and Debra Borland Hodgson. At that time, she was living in Manassas, VA and then in 1978 moved to Vienna, VA, where she served in a long-term role of Office Administrator at the Law Firm of Peterson & Pesner. During that time, she began her new life with her beloved husband, Dan Rainsberger of Falls Church, VA. After they were married, they moved to Winchester, VA to their wonderful brick home and lived there together for 26 years.

Joan had an extensive “later in life” education and made great sacrifices to further her education. She drove to Bel Air, MD from Winchester, VA regularly to complete her associate degree and bachelor’s degree from Lincoln Christian College in 2005 with honors. While serving as pastor at First Christian Church she then furthered her education at Eastern Mennonite Seminary where she drove to seminary in Harrisburg, VA to complete her Master of Divinity in April of 2013 where she received accolades from the seminary for academic excellence. Joan’s most valued accomplishment was when she received her Certificate of Ordination from the Christian Churches of Virginia (Disciples of Christ) in November of 2013 at age 70. Joan continued working as the Senior Pastor at First Christian Church until her retirement in December of 2016.

Joan had many great accomplishments and was a tremendous minister. She was always a straight A student and studied hard to become a Master of Biblical Teachings. Everyone to whom she taught enjoyed her lessons and she helped many become closer in their personal walk with Jesus. She was active in her community and offered sermons at multiple churches in the Shenandoah Valley, wrote articles in the Winchester Star, and even served one year as Prelate for the Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival. Joan was proactive in the advancement of women’s ministries in churches around the valley. She also married and counseled many couples and performed many funerals and weddings in her time as a pastor.

In June of 2018, Joan and Dan moved to Parrish, FL. It was here that she was surrounded by the love of her husband, daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren while she worked through the ups and downs of cancer. The memories created during this time were lasting as she was able to witness them grow and could continue to influence them with her love and faith. The memories of Thanksmas with all her family was a treasured holiday, along with walks on the beach, FaceTime, and updated pictures to her family wall which filled her days with joy and peace.

Survivors include her husband, Daniel Warner Rainsberger of Winchester, VA, and her 2 daughters, Candice Marie Borland Smithyman of Orange Park, FL, her husband, Adam Smithyman, and Debra Jean Borland Hodgson of Sarasota, FL, and her husband, Robert Hodgson II; 5 grandchildren, Alexandria Marie Smithyman Knight, Nicholas Raymond Smithyman, and wife, Avery Smithyman, Abigail Hodgson Chmil and husband, Nicholas Chmil, Robert Sherwood Hodgson III, and Samantha Grace Smithyman Lisenba, and husband, Hunter Lisenba; 5 great grandchildren, Asher Smithyman, Lily Lisenba, Adalyn Smithyman, Leighton Lisenba, and Aria Chmil; and her only niece, Kelly Blair Collins Moore, daughter of her beloved deceased sister, Beverly June Farhood Collins Gunther.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024, at First Christian Church, 75 Merrimans Lane, Winchester, Virginia 22601, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST.
Directly following in procession will be the burial which will be held in Mt. Hebron Cemetery.

Though there are many ministries that Joan was involved in, we ask that in lieu of flowers you consider helping move forward a ministry that she has supported for many years in child trafficking and helps to place them in safe homes through her partnership with Dream Mentors International, www.dreammentors.org, or consider a direct donation in the name of Joan Rainsberger to Tidewell Hospice House, www.tidewellfoundation.org, who provided her the pathway to the most dignified passing to the Lord.