Jo Bennett Bagwell

Jo Bennett Bagwell, age 90, a life-long resident of Cobb County, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2026 surrounded by family. Jo was born February 6, 1936 in the Mars Hill/Stilesboro area of Kennesaw. She attended Kennesaw and Emerson Elementary schools and graduated from Acworth High School. As a child she helped her parents pick cotton and work the fields near the current site of McCollum Airport. Jo was married to the love of her life, Hubert {Fred) Bagwell for 62 years. She returned to school in 1978 and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree With Honor in 1982. In her earlier years Jo worked at McClellan's store on the Marietta Square and People's Financial. She ended her work career as office manager in the family business, Fred Bagwell & Son Automotive. Jo spent many political seasons as poll manager for Cobb County Election Board; volunteered as Sunday School teacher and on the hospitality team at "her church," Elizabeth Baptist in Marietta. She enjoyed hiking, fishing, reading, traveling, "junking" and politics. Always ready for an adventure, Jo made many trips, both here and abroad with her sisters and friends. After retiring, Jo and Fred hiked five miles daily in the Cheatham Hill area, making friends on the trail. Jo was a believer in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and lived her life accordingly. She is preceded in death by her husband Fred Bagwell, parents Reuben and Clara Vaughan Bennett, and beloved granddaughter, Lynn Merwin; brothers Bill and Henry Bennett; sisters Mary Simmons, Betty Richardson, Ruth Brackett, Margaret Meadows and Opal Woodall. Survivors include sons Michael Bagwell (Tracy) of Kennesaw and Mark Bagwell (Amelia) of Cartersville; daughter Kim Bagwell Helbling (Mark) of Acworth; grandchildren Melinda Huff, Alyssa Helbling, Maria Duran (Jeremiah), Katherine Barkman (Ethan) Nathan Bagwell (Gia), and Merrick Bagwell; two sisters, Janice Brookshire (Jim) and Sharon Nichols (Jerry); eleven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 10am-noon on Friday, March 6, 2026 at West Cobb Funeral Home; service immediately following.