Jo Ann Carver had an exemplary faith that carried her to the end.  Sometimes her prayer was simply “Lord, help me.” Other times it was “Lord, thank you.” But, when the storms came, it was an enduring faith.

Jo Ann’s faith carried her through some difficult times — times of surgery and sickness. She had undergone more than one surgery for aneurysms and her latest surgery was for a skin cancer, which required radiation on her head.

Jo Ann died July 11 at the age of 85. She spent her last days in the hospital and before that some days in a local nursing home.

A native of Cat Island, Jo Ann had a special love for the people she grew up with in the small community in the S. Main Street vicinity of town. There, everyone knew each other and they maintained that unique closeness all their lives. “She knew more stories about Cat Island than anyone I know,” said her brother, Jim Bishop. “While the boys were out playing, Jo Ann, when she was growing up, visited with the ladies and listened to their stories, and she never forgot them.”

She attended elementary school at the old Duffield Academy, graduated from Elizabethton High School, and after her children were grown went back to school and received her nursing degree at ETSU. For several years she was employed as a plant nurse at the North American Rayon Corp.

For the past few years I have had the privilege of attending church and Sunday School with Jo Ann at First Free Will Baptist Church. She was faithful to her church and dearly loved her church family, especially members of the Volunteer Sunday School Class. “Every time the church doors were open, she was there. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and anytime between if there was something going on,” said her husband, Harold.

The last few Sundays she attended church, she did so in a wheelchair. “The last time she attended church, she left the nursing home to do so,” said Harold.

Jo Ann especially enjoyed the Sunday School class’s cooking day once a month, when class members prepare a meal and deliver it to shut-ins, the elderly, and others in need. She came early, and as long as she was able helped with the cooking, packing the food, and she and Harold had a list of people to whom they delivered meals. When she was no longer able to help, she still came and sit and watched.

She also enjoyed the monthly get-togethers of the Adult Activity group at the church and went on most of the trips the group took — shopping, out to eat, and sometimes, a trip to the beach.

“Her favorite place to go was Myrtle Beach, S.C. When we were younger, we used to camp a lot, and we would take camping trips to Myrtle Beach,” Harold shared.

“Jo Ann liked to go. Every time the wheels turned, she wanted to go. She liked to shop, especially for clothes. She’s got closets of clothes,” Harold explained.

Brother Jim said Jo Ann looked for bargains. “She would be at a grocery store and she would call me to share about some sale item or bargain. She got excited about bargains,” he said.

Jo Ann liked family get-togethers and cooking Sunday dinner for family. “She was a good cook, too. Her favorite dishes to cook were casseroles and cakes,” said Harold. “In the past, she enjoyed reading but her eyesight got bad and she couldn’t see to read, so she had to give it up.”

She was mother to three children, Richard and Cathy, and the late Michael Nelson.

Jo Ann and Harold would have been married 49 years in October. They met through a mutual friend and some of their first dates were at the old Fudd’s Restaurant in Rio Vista. It, too, like Cat Island, is gone, except for the memories.

There are lots of things to remember and admire about Jo Ann — the stories, the recipes, her sweet spirit, the laughter and camaraderie of Sunday School members, the fish fry dinners, and shopping trips.

But, the one thing we will always remember and admire about Jo Ann was her strong faith and church attendance. She was as faithful in the small things as much as the trials that came her way. For Jo Ann Carver, prayer was the key of the day and the lock of the night.