March 26, 2024.
Born to Frank and Zelma Roberts in Paragould, Arkansas on May 28, 1932 JoAnn was
preceded in death by her husband, Bob E. Childers, her parents, her brother, Dick Roberts, and
sisters Mary Jane Twaddle, Sue Spencer, and Sandra Smith.
She is survived by her children William Frank Childers (Barbara), Robert Clayton Childers
(Denise), John Murry Childers (Jeannie), and Julia Ann Sewell (Mark) as well as grandchildren
Patrick Sewell (Kari), Allison Scott (Ben), Morgan Fitzpatrick (Darren), Taylor Sewell, Carly
Moenich (Harrison), Amy Childers, Kelsey Butner (Forrest), Jennifer Childers, and Nick Sewell
(McKenzie). In addition, she leaves 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
JoAnn was raised in Memphis and attended Central High School and Union Avenue Baptist
Church where she met Bob when they were both in the Baptist Young People’s Union (BYPU).
She attended Union University and married Bob during her junior year on May 1, 1953.
Soon afterwards, they moved to El Paso, TX where Bob was stationed at Fort Bliss in the US
Army. While there, JoAnn gave birth to two sons (Frank and Clayton). They returned to
Memphis for several years before moving to Knoxville, TN in 1960 where Bob entered the
doctoral program at The University of Tennessee. Their third son, John was born while they
lived in Knoxville. Next, they moved to Athens, TN where Bob served as principal at McMinn
County High school. While in Athens, they welcomed their daughter, Julie.
Bob was hired as Deputy Secretary of Education for the state of Tennessee, so they moved to
Nashville for three years and then to Atlanta where they finally settled and raised their family.
JoAnn earned her bachelors and masters degrees from Georgia State University and taught
elementary school in Dekalb County, GA. She served as president of the Dekalb County
chapter of PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators). She was active at the First
Baptist Church of Avondale Estates, GA and with the PTSA at her children’s schools. She also
helped found the Childers/Childress Genealogical Society.
Following their retirement, JoAnn and Bob moved to Woodruff, SC where they restored a
vineyard. She became active in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the
Children of the American Revolution (CAR) chapters.
JoAnn spent the final years of her life in an assisted living facility near her daughter in
Kingsport, TN.
Visitation will be held on April 2 at 1 pm followed by the funeral service at 2 pm at Memphis
Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119. She will be buried next to Bob at
Memphis Memory Gardens immediately following the funeral service.
