Jo Ann Akers was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior at the age of 83 and reunited with her siblings surrounded by her loving family on August 6, 2024. She was born on July 30, 1941 in Pulaski, VA, where she spent her entire life.
Jo Ann dedicated her life to her family and friends. Her home was a warm and welcoming place filled with love and laughter, where everyone felt like part of the family. Jo Ann was a beloved figure in her community, known for her pork chop biscuits, fried pies, fudge and peanut butter balls.
She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Georgie White, her brothers and sisters-in-law Ralph White (Audrey), Sterling White, Frankie White and Johnnie White, and her sisters and brothers-in-law Beaulah Litz (Jack), Marie Hurst (Marvin), Beatrice Arnold (Ell Roy) and Daphine Coffey (Johnny).
Jo Ann is survived by her husband of 35 years, Travis Akers; her daughter, Joshlen Ramsey (Tim Underwood); her son, Pete Pennington (Sandie); and her beloved grandchildren, Paige Cook (Travis), Sean Pennington (Kayla), and Amanda Pennington. Jo Ann was also the proud great-grandmother of Madalyn, Britton, Hollany, Rozlyn, Jervon, Braxton, and Walker; her sisters-in-law, Nancy and Peggy White; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her sister-in-law, Nancy White, and her nieces, Sandra Reed, and Zetta Hayes, held a special place in her heart, as did her lifelong friend, Peggy Speed, with whom she shared countless memories.
A celebration of Jo Ann’s life will be held on August 24th at the outdoor pavilion of New Hope Church in Pulaski, VA.th from 1 to 3. The family invites participants to bring a covered dish for a shared picnic honoring Jo Ann’s love of bringing people together through food.
