Jo Ann Goodman Wolford was born March 29, 1937, in Hickman County, Tennessee and departed this life on October 4, 2024, at the age of 87 years.

Jo Ann spent her early years in Hickman County, Tennessee with her mother, grandparents, aunts, and cousins. After World War II ended, her family, along with many other families from Tennessee, moved to Detroit for work in manufacturing. She graduated from East Detroit High School in 1955. After graduating, she attended Michigan State University. In college, Jo Ann excelled at her studies, as well as archery. She was selected for the annual Women’s Intercollegiate Archery Tournament. She graduated in 1957 with the equivalent of a two-year degree in business administration.

Jo Ann met Kenneth “Kenny” L. Wolford and began 62 years of marriage in 1961 in Detroit, MI. They were lucky to work in many different cities. They worked, played and made life-long friends in every city they chose as home. They shared their lives with two wonderful dogs – Bonnie and then Patches. Wherever they lived, Mr. and Mrs. Wolford made sure pots of flowers and flower beds were in bloom each spring and summer. Kenny built bird houses tailored for the type of birds that visited, and Jo Ann kept the occupants fed. Blue bird families would return year after year. Jo Ann knitted beautiful blankets using a basket weave pattern that she designed. She also cross-stitched exquisitely detailed scenes of animals and her favorite city – Charleston, South Carolina.

Mrs. Wolford is predeceased by her husband Kenny, her mother Irma (Mitchell) Peters, Stepfather Paul E. Peters, and her father Noah Glenn Goodman. She leaves behind her aunts, Margie (Mitchell) Copley and Jackie (Mitchell) Tombone; dearly loved in-laws, nieces, cousins, extended family, and friends in Tennessee; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; North Carolina; and Texas.

Special thanks to the professionals at Aveanna Hospice Care, who provided the comfort care Jo Ann so desperately needed in the last months of her life. We are eternally grateful.

Graveside service for Mrs. Wolford will be Friday, October 18, 2024, at Memory Gardens in Centerville, Tennessee at 1:00 p.m.

Jo Ann requested that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a church or charity of your choice.