Jo Ann Parrish Bennett

Jo Ann Parrish Bennett was born to Joel Hampton Parrish and Nina Opal Whitehead on May 7, 1942. Jo Ann passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. She graduated Union County High School in Lake Butler and moved to Jacksonville to pursue a career where she met and married her wonderful husband, Joe. After 49 years of a great marriage, he predeceased Jo Ann.

Mrs. Bennett is survived by her loving son, Mathew Joel Bennett, three stepchildren, Constance (Connie) Bennett Christal (Mike) of Plano TX, James (Jim) Bennett (Charisse) of Seattle, WA, step-grandchildren, Kimberly and Carrie Christal, and Tylor and Joey Bennett. Surviving is her brother, James Markalee Parrish, sisters, Agnes Sapp (Robert), Alice Douglas Brooks (Bert), Jessie Starling (Marty), Carolyn Easter (Bill), Martha Jane Johns (Mike), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is predeceased by her parents and one sister, Peggy Ann Baker. Mathew was a phenomenal caregiver to his mother with great help from her 5 sisters.

Mrs. Bennett’s career included work at the Atlantic Bank, Carolina Casualty Insurance and Voyager Life Insurance Companies, St Vincent’s, and Baptist Hospitals. She served as Executive Secretary to the Trustees at the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and Director of Administration for 27 years, retiring in 2006. She is a member of Ft Caroline Christian Church.

.

Mrs. Bennett volunteered at Larches’ Harbor House and served on its Auxiliary for many years, was founder (2001) and Queen of the Scarlett Red Hatter Chapter of the Red Hat Society, member of the Arlington Classic Line Dancers, and volunteered at the Fortuna. She ushered at the Jacksonville Symphony and the Florida Theatre. She also volunteered at the Senior Center and The Arc Village where her son lives. After retirement in 2006, Mrs. Bennett published two family cookbooks.

Mrs. Bennett had many hobbies: Gardening, crocheting, cooking, watercolor painting, canning, traveling with family and friends both locally and internationally.

She will be missed by her family and many friends who loved her.

Family will receive friends at Ft Caroline Christian Church, 7535 Ft Caroline Road on Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. until the memorial service that will celebrate her life at 2:00 p.m.

.

Corey Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd., Jax., Fl 32211, is handling arrangements. Interment will be held on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the Jacksonville National Cemetery where her husband is interred. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to L’Arche Jacksonville, Fort Caroline Christian Church, or Community Hospice.