Josephine M. (Northup) Chromy

Josephine Manigault Chromy was born on June 18, 1944, in Asheville, North Carolina to Isaac and Josephine Northup. She enjoyed telling the story of her birth, which fell on Father’s Day that year. Early that morning, her father, an Episcopal priest, announced to the congregation that his daughter Josephine had been born, thereby ending the debate he and his wife had been having about naming her after her grandmother Emma or her mother Josephine.

Josephine departed this world on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Her son Nathan and her daughter Ellie were by her side until she was welcomed into God’s loving embrace. She is now celebrating in heaven with the many souls who preceded her in death, including her parents, her daughter Karen Rebecca, her husband John Chromy, her brother-in-law Tom Flinn, and other beloved family members and friends.

Josephine was a gifted educator and a person of great faith. After earning her Bachelors of Arts degree at Smith College in Economics, she went on to receive a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, followed years later by a Masters of Education (Special Education) from Western Carolina University. She supplemented her education degrees with a multitude of religion classes, pursing her faith with as much vigor as her academics.

She was actively involved in her parish at St. Aiden’s Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan before moving to Houston, Texas, where she worked as a teacher at St. Francis Episcopal and became the director of Religious Education at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church. At Palmer, she helped implement a 9:00 a.m. family service with full communion to make the service more welcoming to children. Additionally, she helped organize a monthly adult discussion group which continues to this day.

Her life in Houston included years working as a realtor and as the administrator of the Department of Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine. She never completely quit teaching, however, and taught night school classes at Houston Community College to freshmen taking remedial English. She used her amazing intellect and boundless energy to help even the most forgotten students experience success.

When she moved back to her hometown of Asheville, she worked as a Special Education teacher in the public school system, taught GED classes to students at AB Tech Community College and in men’s and women’s prisons.

Josephine was quick to volunteer and the first person to notice anyone in need, especially people who are often overlooked. While living in Nashville, her role as an usher at Christ Church Cathedral gave her the opportunity to notice when homeless people would come into the church. She made sure the priest would bring them communion and referred them to services for additional help. She eventually joined the Wayfarer’s Ministry, designed to reach out to those living on the streets, and she has been credited with keeping that program intact during the Covid pandemic. She was actively involved in every church she attended, often being remembered as “the first person who welcomed me” by newcomers.

Her smile lit up every room and her energy level was indefatigable. Her desire to help was apparent in every area of her life. New neighbors moving in under her purview were often treated to a hot meal and an offer to babysit. She joined the board of her HOA, and hosted meetings at her house so she could serve dinner as well.

She enjoyed reading biographies and light fiction, as well as discussing philosophy and questions of morality. She loved the beach and took special delight in taking her family to Pawleys Island, sharing with them the wonderful memories she had made working there in her younger years.

Most summers you could find her enjoying the company of extended family members at Kanuga Conference Center. She took a dream trip to Alaska in 2017, and she loved going to baseball games at any time. She loved to sew and bake and gave personalized gifts to family members and friends.

What she loved the most, however, was time spent with family. And she cherished every moment she shared with her son Nathanial Henry, daughter-in-law Kimberly Jean, grandsons Canaan Alexander and Gabriel Manigault, of Houston, TX; her daughter Ellie Fulton, son-in-law Brady James, grandsons Emmett and Isaac, of Nashville, TN; her daughter Amy Eckart of Asheville, NC; her brother Frederick Bowen Northup Sr., sister-in-law Julie Seibels; her sister Emma Northup Flinn; her brother Isaac Noyes Northup, Jr., and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Her definition of family was as expansive as her love. Nathan and Ellie were children by birth, Karen and Amy via adoption, and Celeste Hare, Rosalie Paul and Dorie Kerr through marriage. She loved each of them and their children uniquely and without limit. She was incredibly proud of them and showed up for as many games, events, bagpiping contests and birthdays as possible. She leaves a hole in the hearts of those she leaves behind, and a legacy of unwavering faith in her eternal life with the almighty.

To honor Josephine, we invite you to feed the homeless, volunteer to read to students in school, lend a hand to someone in need, bake a birthday cake from scratch, or attend a baseball game in the summer.

A Eucharistic Funeral Service will be held in celebration of the life, love, and legacy of Josephine at the Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville, NC on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her honor to Liberty Corner Enterprises, which provides residential services and loving support for Amy, Josephine’s youngest child. Please visit https://lcewnc.org/ and click the donate button to make a contribution.