Jo Ann Williams

On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Jo Ann Williams, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., peacefully went home to glory after a hard-fought battle with cancer at the Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., surrounded with the love of her family and special friend.

Jo was born in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on Oct. 22, 1965 to Mr. Robert Hill of Dayton, Ohio and the late Ms. Della Mae Williams.

Jo was a free-spirited and lovable person. She was a great friend who would go to the ends of the earth to help you. She was a true blessing to others and would give you the shirt off her back. If you needed her, all you had to do is ask and she would do whatever it took to come to your aid.

The first time she saw the Pacific Ocean, she was in awe and you could see the little kid in her. In her playful and fun-loving way, she tried to baptize her sister-in-law and close friend in this great body of water all in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

She played basketball for the Robertsville Rams and graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1983. She later graduated the Tennessee School of Beauty and became a well-known Licensed Beautician. Above all, she was a zealous Warrior for Christ! Her infectious smile and warm personality were beautiful and comforting to all who had the pleasure to have met her.

Jo was a dedicated member of True Light Baptist Church, where she was a choir member and often taught children Sunday School lessons. She enjoyed praying, praising and learning more and more about the Lord. She left behind a legacy to her family of being devoted to the faith and having genuine relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. She will be immensely missed, but her spirit will live on in her family.

Jo was preceded in death by her mother, sister, Mary Elizabeth Martin, aunts, Helen Hill and Mary Elizabeth Williams, and great-niece, Shavea Unique Eddins-Anderson

Jo is survived by the following family members: sons, Travellis James Williams, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Lorenzo Stewart Williams of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; daughters, Jeree Shantell (Bryant) Anderson of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Kayla Tyree Williams of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; grandchildren, Travellis James Williams, Jr. of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Darius Ray Stewart of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Tobja Williams of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Saniah Williams of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Ty’Vell Evanule Williams of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Markeese Williams of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Damari Williams of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; special great nieces and nephew, who she raised as her own, Keyonna M. Anderson of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Artavious D. Anderson of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Ken’asia D. Anderson, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Juleesha L.A. Anderson of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Father, Robert Hill of Dayton, Ohio; brothers, Tommy Williams of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; David Lee (Andrea) Anderson of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Edward Junior (Trina) Williams of Cedar Hill, Tenn.; and brother-in-law, Marquis C. Martin of Upatoi, Ga.; nieces and nephews, Shawn P. Wright-Anderson of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Marcque Anderson of Hardeeville, S.C., Jacque (Keyona) Anderson of Levy, S.C., Xezavis X. Williams of Oak Ridge, Tenn., AnaAlic’ia R. (Markens) Louis, Jeremey M. Williams, LaCoya D. Anderson, Antione M Martin of Saginaw, Mich., Brandon (Jasmine) Tooley of Athens, Tenn., Ka’Nesha Anderson of Clinton, Tenn.; Chris Badgett of Fort Drum, N.Y.; Angel Y. Williams of San Antonio, Texas; Serenity K. Williams of Cedar Hill, Tenn., Isaac E. Williams of Cedar Hill, Tenn.; Joshua E. Williams of Cedar Hill, Tenn., and a host of other family and friends to include special friends, Dorothy Jean Slater of Oak Ridge, Tenn., who was a great friend, Tony Hall of Knoxville, Tenn., who has been there from the beginning to the transition into eternity, both Stacy Pettus and Octavia Chisholm-Paulino, whom were very dear to her heart. 

On Tuesday, July 2, 2019, the family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to noon with a funeral to follow at True Light Missionary Baptist Church, 3229 George Light Road, Knoxville, TN 37931. Elder Darris W. Waters, Sr. is the Pastor and Eulogist.

Interment will immediately follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park, where a white dove release will conclude the service. Flowers may be delivered to the church the morning of the funeral.

Professional arrangements entrusted to Patton Funeral Home, Brian L. Buckmon, LFD 1-800-824-8283 or www.pattonfunerahome1962.com.

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