Jo Ann was born on March 16, 1938, in Clinton, North Carolina. Through much of her adult life, Jo Ann lived in the Clinton area, where she worked as a favorite waitress at several local restaurants, including Mary’s Restaurant. On November 30, 1991, she married Alton (“Bo”) Wood. After marrying Bo, JoAnn became a housewife and loved spending time with Bo growing collards and other vegetables to sell at the family farm in Clayton.
In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by her two children: Keith Powell of Sneeds Ferry, NC, and Scott (Donna) Powell of Garner, NC; three step children: Al Wood (Joan) of Elizabeth City, NC, Johanna Wood of Clayton, NC, and Robbie Wood (Rhonda) of Apex, NC; step son in law, Gregg Brown, of Clayton; seven grandchildren: Charlie (Megan) Powell of Clinton, NC, Mary-Scott (Jacob) Baker of Garner, NC , Joshua Wood of Elizabeth City, NC, Katie and Sara Brown of Clayton, NC, Rebecca and Joylynn Wood of Apex, NC; three sisters: Joyce Adams of Dunn NC, Carolyn Naylor of Clinton, NC, and Patricia Sutton of Clinton, NC.
Jo Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Eloise Porter; a husband, Ira Powell; a son, Randall (“Randy”) Powell; a step daughter, Susan Brown; a daughter-in-law, Marsha Powell; and three brothers, Bennie Porter, Sammie Porter, and Mack Porter.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Patricia Sutton and J.W. and Annie Pearl Nichols, as well as the staff at WakeMed Hospital, for their compassionate care and concern for Jo Ann.
A celebration of her life will be held at McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton NC, on Saturday, July 27, 2019, at noon. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 11 am until noon. Burial will be at the Mount Gilead Church cemetery in Clinton, NC at 3 pm. Those planning an expression of sympathy, please consider a donation to the UNC Children’s Hospital in memory of Jo Ann. The donation can be mailed to: UNC Children's Office of External Affairs, Campus Box #7237, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7237.
