Jo Anna also leaves behind a large universe of friends who admired Jo Anna for her warm, engaging personality and for her love for her family, her church and her community. Jo Anna was born on Dec. 24, 1960, and raised in Williamston, North Carolina. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she played varsity basketball. She met Doug while working at the YMCA in Raleigh, and the Y was always a part of their family. Jo Anna believed in the Y and thought it was a place where children could have fun and learn to be their best selves.
Jo Anna lived a life of serving others. She served every school that her children attended. She loved volunteering at Camp Seafarer and Sea Gull when her children were on staff. She served her church, Hayes Barton United Methodist, in seemingly every way possible. She made certain her family was in Sunday school and worship each Sunday (on the front row!) and her children were in church choir, Vacation Bible School, youth group, FCA and Young Life. She was active in United Methodist Women and took a special interest in the elderly women who wanted to remain connected to their faith community.
Jo Anna knew how to have fun and celebrate -- holidays, birthdays, graduations, other events. They were always special, unique, fun and welcoming. For Jo Anna, almost anything could be a reason to get friends and family together. Her mother gave her the book, “What It Means To Be Southern,” and Jo Anna believed in Southern hospitality. For Jo Anna, life was all about relationships, and she built those relationships through Supper Club, play groups and other groups, such as the one led by Helen Johnson that visited Haiti to support children there.
Jo Anna had an infectious sense of humor and a well-developed ability to laugh at herself and her endless escapades. Near her home computer, she kept a piece of paper from her children titled, “10 Things We LOVE about you.” Near the top was, “Ability to laugh at yourself.”
Jo Anna was devoted to her children – and to all children. She befriended her children’s friends and kept up with them. When she passed away Thursday, her children were flooded with text messages from their friends. One of them wrote: “God knows what He is doing, but down here we lost a wonderful woman who sang loudly, led boldly, drove frightfully, lived generously, laughed quickly and loved deeply.”
For the last three decades, Jo Anna was devoted to raising her and Doug’s five children and to volunteering at her church and in the community. In the last few years, as her youngest child left for college, Jo Anna considered seeking employment outside the home. But she wondered who would hire her. In truth, God had hired Jo Anna long ago and she led a life of service. Her faith was reflected in how she lived every day of her life. Devotionals were scattered amongst the house. She loyally texted her family with Sunday Scripture and Thursday Thought for the Day. She valued family deeply and taught her family that love of others is most important.
She was preceded in death by her loving parents Laurence Eason Lilley, Sr. and Mary Anna Taylor Lilley; by Doug's mother, Virginia; and by Doug's brother, Roy.
She is survived by her husband Doug and their immediate family of five children: Mary Laurence and husband Andrew Crook, Virginia, Worth, Lee Anna, and Roy. Jo Anna is also survived by a large and loving family including her three brothers and sisters in law: Laurence and Claudia Lilley; Roy and Carla Lilley; and Jim and Catherine Lilley; and Doug’s immediate family: father Robert McMillan; brother Duncan and Cornelia McMillan; sister Rebecca and David Sparrow; sister May and Mark Bensen; brother Lewis and Beth McMillan; and 30 nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews on both sides of the family.
A service to celebrate Jo Anna's life will be held on Monday, May 21st at 1:00 pm at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Rd. Raleigh, NC 27608. The family will receive friends following the service at the church and also Sunday, May 20th from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm at Jo Anna and Doug's home.
In lieu flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hayes Barton United Methodist Church or to the YMCA of the Triangle, 801 Corporate Center Drive Suite 200 Raleigh, NC 27607.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC.
