Jo Ann Smith

JoAnn was born Joan Joyce Teal on March 10, 1934 in Kings Daughters hospital in Greenville, Mississippi to Joy Ely Teal, Jr. and Clara Isola Phillips Teal of Indianola, MS. She spent most of her childhood days growing up in Indianola, MS. Her father was drafted near the end of WWII, and her mother worked for a time in TN. During that time she lived with two of her aunts, sisters to her mother, Aunt Willie Phillips Wall in Indianola, MS and Aunt Ruby Phillips Lee in Sunflower, MS. JoAnn was especially close to Aunt Willie.

Sometime during her later years in high school, her parents relocated to Tyler, TX. JoAnn did not want to leave her friends and family in MS, however she did finally go. In Tyler, she attended and graduated from Tyler High School in 1952. She and her friends of the time hung out around the square in Tyler and it was there that she met her soulmate and future life partner, David Franklin Smith.

David and JoAnn fell in love and married on November 14, 1953 at Marvin Methodist Church. They made their home in Tyler and shortly after began their family together with David Franklin Smith, Jr (1956), Patricia Ann Smith (1958) and Randall Keith Smith (1961). While the family relocated to PA for a few years in the late 60’s, they moved back to Tyler where the kids all graduated from John Tyler High School, 1975, 1977 and 1979 respectively.

JoAnn worked outside the home until shortly after beginning the family at which time she became a full-time housewife and mother. She volunteered with the church, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and other parent type organizations to support her family’s activities. Later in life she was able to focus on her own dreams of travel and she and David traveled the world. It started with a cruise to the Bahamas in the late 70’s. From there they toured throughout Europe, the Far East and even Australia.

Other than travel, JoAnn’s greatest joys were her grandchildren. Every summer for several years all six of her children’s children would come together at their house during a week to make up games, watch movies, swim and just have fun. Nana and Papa took them to the Caldwell Zoo, Brookshires Wildlife Museum, and to see movies. Papa built push cars, renovated/repaired play houses and contributed to their sense of imagination. JoAnn welcomed another grandchild through marriage and by the time of her passing, she had 7 grandchildren Michael, Randi, Blake, Elizabeth, Chelsea, Melissa and Matthew, and 7 great grandchildren.

I have been told, and I agree, “she was a character”. JoAnn certainly had opinions on many things, and when she felt it necessary, shared them. She loved Jesus Christ and her family. Even though we will be sad and miss her, I know without a doubt that when she passed, Christ and Dad welcomed her into their arms and she is much happier there.

The family will gather for a time of visitation and fellowship at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home on Monday, June 24th from 9:30 until service time, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. David Brashear officiating. Burial will follow services at Tyler Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, you might consider a gift to Bullard Methodist Church (https://www.ezekielgiving.com/App/Giving/bull204226) or Girl Scouts (https://www.classy.org/give/581533/#!/donation/checkout) in JoAnn’s memory.