Jo Ann Cornelius Stone

Jo Ann Cornelius Stone was born on February 9, 1947 and went to her heavenly home on Sunday, May 19, 2024. Her name, given to her by her brother, Dalton Eugene, means “God is gracious.” It’s no wonder her life was marked with God’s amazing grace. As the youngest child and only daughter of Dalton Cecil and Fannie Daphine Hutchison Cornelius, Jo Ann lived a full, blessed, and happy life.

She was born in Dallas County where she attended school, was a member of Urban Park Assembly of God Church, and met the love of her life, Troy Keith Stone, who was an attendant at a gas station near her home. Troy told the story that Jo Ann would throw her gum wrappers out the window to get his attention. Jo Ann claimed that Troy remembered things all wrong; but regardless of who initiated the flirting, the two were smitten and married on March 24, 1965. They resided in Mesquite, Conroe, and Red Oak, Texas, and built a beautiful life together. Troy and Jo Ann were blessed with five children, eighteen grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren.

Jo Ann spent her entire life serving others. She was Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Wife, Mom, Aunt, Friend, Grandma, Great Grandma, Prayer Partner, Nursery Attendant, Missionette Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Girl Scout Leader, Team Mom, Room Mother, Taxi Driver, Party Planner, Homework Helper, Teacher, Principal, Administrator, Childcare Worker, Election Judge, Intercessory Prayer Leader, Women’s Ministry Leader, Dreamer, Achiever, Cheer Leader, Life Coach, and the list could go on and on and on.

She was a champion for the underdog, and the first one to support a God-sized dream. When others said it couldn’t be done, Jo Ann would say, “Let’s do it!” She had a passion for Kingdom business and was eager to serve the Lord in ministry and outreach. During her lifetime, she served in ministry at Conroe First Assembly of God Church, Faith Outreach Center, Spirit of Life Church in Red Oak, Midlothian Christian Fellowship, and Great Expectations Christian Academy. For the last 15 years, she served in various ministries at Westlake Fellowship in Montgomery, Texas. Even in her last days, she mentioned starting a new ministry which she would call “Persuaded” for those who needed to know that God is able.

Of all the roles she served, mothering was her niche. When it came to mothering, she didn’t only mother her five, she mothered countless others and often opened her home to those who needed a place to call home for a while. And she did so without any expectation in return. She would say she wasn’t a perfect mom, but she was the perfect mom for those she had an opportunity to mother. She loved so many as if they were her own —Benita, Scott, Brant, Herby, Stephani— and so many more.

She loved being a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother and was proud of her family. As her family grew, so did her heart for them. They were important to her. She immensely enjoyed family gatherings and events and was always looking for opportunities to celebrate or for reasons to plan and host a party.

She was an incredibly strong-willed woman and married into a family of strong-willed Stone women, which likely contributed to her growing even stronger in will. Her great grandson, Levi, recognized her strength when he spoke of her miraculous survival of three strokes. During her last stent of hospital visits, when her family would ask her if she was ready to go to heaven, she would respond. “I’m ready, but I don’t think it’s time—I don’t think God’s finished with me yet,” or “Why are you trying to rush me off?”

Her strong faith was also exemplified in her determination to quote scripture to everyone who entered the hospital room. When medication and infection made her speech difficult to understand, her visitors clearly understood her 2 Timothy 1:12 declaration, “I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” She even had her doctors repeating the meditation of her heart.

When asked which scripture she’d claim as her favorite, she responded that she couldn’t choose, just like she couldn’t choose which of her children was her favorite, even though each of her children knew who the “favorite” truly was.

Her life cannot be summed up in words written upon a page. Instead, to know who she was and how she lived, you’d have to know each of her children, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, her friends, and the countless other lives she touched. You’d have to hear the stories of how she prayed powerful and specific prayers — how she prayed for the traffic to part like the Red Sea, how she commanded the rain to cease until she made it to her destination, how she’d rise to chastise those who spoke unbelief, how she would speak to mountains and expect them to move, or how she would boldly petition the heavens for loved ones and strangers alike. She deposited a part of herself into each of us. She left a mark on our lives that cannot be erased, and, if she were here today, she’d tell you that the very best parts of who she was wasn’t her at all, but it was Jesus. She would tell you that the born again, spirit-filled life isn’t about making it to Heaven, but it’s about sharing the love of Jesus with everyone you meet. It’s about making deposits in the lives of those around you, serving others, encouraging others, praying for others, and loving others.

She was a woman of great faith, a woman who believed that God could and would do exactly what He promised He would do. And that’s exactly how she lived— “persuaded that He is able.”

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Troy Keith Stone, to whom she was married 40 years until his death in 2006; her parents, Cecil and Daphine Cornelius; her brothers, Charles and Eugene Cornelius;, one grandchild; and well-loved brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. She is survived by her children, Alesia and Chris Lackey, Timothy and Lori Stone, Veronica and David Marecle, Philip and Danae Stone, Matthew and Lauren Stone. Her legacy will continue through her grandchildren: Corey and Lizzie Lackey, Chelsi and Caleb Kendrick, Chad and Bethany Lackey, Caleb and Bailey Lackey, Wes and Emily Marecle, Ben Marecle, Wil Marecle, Benjamin Stone, Jaedyn and Ethan Stoehr, Paityn Stone, Josiah Stone, Logan Stone, Reagan Stone, Caelyn Stone, Addison Jo Stone, Dallas Stone, Troy Stone; and her great grandchildren: Levi Kendrick, Luke Kendrick, Hallie Jo Marecle, Norah Lackey, Paxton Lackey, Cole Kendrick, Carson Kendrick, Landry Marecle, Hudson Lackey, and Eli Lackey.

Jo Ann was also survived by her cousin Vickie Hutchison Kimbrough of Edgewood, Texas, who she loved like a sister and looked forward to their daily chats and her BFF Sharon Tyler of Cut-n-Shoot, Texas, who was her partner in crime for the better part of 47 years. She additionally leaves behind her cousins, Bill Hutchison and Gale Kimbrough, beloved nieces and nephews, and a host of cherished friends.

A private graveside service will be held for immediate family members. Friends are invited to attend her Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 2:00 pm, at Westlake Fellowship 19786 TX-105 #120 in Montgomery, Texas. The family will receive guests at a reception following the Celebration of Life.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12