JoAnn Morris
JoAnn Morris, age 92, died peacefully at home surrounded by friends and family on Monday, February 9, 2026.
She was a two-time cancer survivor and a victim of Alzheimer’s dementia. Born as JoAnn Malone, in Friendship, Tennessee, she was preceded in death by her mother Algie Lou Malone Kenner and stepfather, Neal Kenner of Alamo, Tennessee. In 1953, JoAnn married Lowell “Poston” Morris of Mercer, Tennessee. June of 2025, after 71 years of marriage, Poston preceded her in death due to pancreatic cancer.
JoAnn graduated as valedictorian and played basketball for Alamo High School. As a Dean’s List graduate of West Tennessee Business College, she pursued a career in bookkeeping where she worked as an in-office employee as well as picking up work for home bookkeeping jobs for several small businesses in town. During this time in the 1970’s, not only was she a housewife and mother of three, she was the bookkeeper for their 24-hour wrecker service and up to three full-service gas stations she and Poston owned (owning one of the two wrecker services available in Jackson at the time). Later, as she continued her various bookkeeping jobs, she began working for the Madison County Courthouse. Shy of being a 30-year employee, she retired as Chief Register of Deeds for the courthouse. After retirement, until the last 10 years, she continued to work at the voting polls for the Madison County Election Commission.
First and foremost, JoAnn was a dedicated Christian. She was a great Christian role model, wife and mother. She mastered self-control, refraining from regret of words spoken in anger, by her “look” or appropriately timed sigh. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Alamo and in 1960, she and Poston became members and oftentimes, taught Sunday School at Poplar Heights Baptist Church in Jackson (currently Hope Life Church). JoAnn was an avid book reader. She also liked word puzzle books and was a loyal Wheel of Fortune viewer, often solving the puzzles before the contestants.
Elvis Presley songs cheered her up and anytime she heard his songs, her feet would start moving whether awake or in the middle of sleeping. She loved dancing. She enjoyed camping, fishing and canning from their gardens. At family gatherings, she had special requests for fresh cooked or their canned garden vegetables, her homemade cornbread, lemon tea and Butterfinger cake. Breakfast, lunch and supper always began with thanks and prayer and ended with dessert after lunch and supper. At various properties they owned, including their 2-story cabin “the land” built mostly by family and friends, she enjoyed cooking/preparing meals for friends and family who gathered for hunting trips and fellowship. She had a passion for preparing the homegrown produce from their gardens. When family or anyone would stop by for a visit or otherwise, you would leave with their garden fresh vegetables or produce already canned. Oftentimes, family, friends and others who would hear of their bigger, better tasting vegetables, would call-in pick-up orders.
She is survived by three children: Lowell Steven “Steve” Morris (Rhonda), Connie Morris Brandon (Terry Rhodes), and Carla Morris Rader (Jeffrie “Jeff”). She leaves behind six grandchildren, Joshua “Josh” Rader, Jacob Brandon, Aaron Morris (Taylor), Ashton Rader (Christian “Crissi”), Brooks Morris and Breeanna “Bree” Rader. She also leaves behind six great-grandchildren, Halle Miller, Blake Rader, Kiley Rader, Kynlee Powell, Hunt Rader, Camilo Morris and a 7th great-grandchild, Bradford “Brady” Lowe Morris expected to arrive in May of this year.
Officiating Funeral Services: George A. Smith and Sons, North Chapel and Bro. Richard Bragg of Hope Life Church, Jackson, TN.
Visitation is to be held on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at George A. Smith and Sons, North Chapel from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with funeral services at 1:00 and burial to directly follow at Brownsville Memorial Gardens in Brownsville, Tennessee.
Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren, Joshua “Josh” Rader, Jacob Brandon, Ashton Rader, Aaron Morris, Brooks Morris and Breeanna “Bree” Rader with alternate honorary pallbearer her great grandson, Blake Rader. Pianist: Frank Neely. Soloist: Bonay Neely.
Dear to the family’s heart are The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, The American Cancer Society, and Hope Life Church (formerly Poplar Heights Baptist Church) Jackson, TN. Contributions in her honor are appreciated.
, age 92, died peacefully at home surrounded by friends and family on Monday, February 9, 2026.
She was a two-time cancer survivor and a victim of Alzheimer’s dementia. Born as JoAnn Malone, in Friendship, Tennessee, she was preceded in death by her mother Algie Lou Malone Kenner and stepfather, Neal Kenner of Alamo, Tennessee. In 1953, JoAnn married Lowell “Poston” Morris of Mercer, Tennessee. June of 2025, after 71 years of marriage, Poston preceded her in death due to pancreatic cancer.
JoAnn graduated as valedictorian and played basketball for Alamo High School. As a Dean’s List graduate of West Tennessee Business College, she pursued a career in bookkeeping where she worked as an in-office employee as well as picking up work for home bookkeeping jobs for several small businesses in town. During this time in the 1970’s, not only was she a housewife and mother of three, she was the bookkeeper for their 24-hour wrecker service and up to three full-service gas stations she and Poston owned (owning one of the two wrecker services available in Jackson at the time). Later, as she continued her various bookkeeping jobs, she began working for the Madison County Courthouse. Shy of being a 30-year employee, she retired as Chief Register of Deeds for the courthouse. After retirement, until the last 10 years, she continued to work at the voting polls for the Madison County Election Commission.
First and foremost, JoAnn was a dedicated Christian. She was a great Christian role model, wife and mother. She mastered self-control, refraining from regret of words spoken in anger, by her “look” or appropriately timed sigh. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Alamo and in 1960, she and Poston became members and oftentimes, taught Sunday School at Poplar Heights Baptist Church in Jackson (currently Hope Life Church). JoAnn was an avid book reader. She also liked word puzzle books and was a loyal Wheel of Fortune viewer, often solving the puzzles before the contestants.
Elvis Presley songs cheered her up and anytime she heard his songs, her feet would start moving whether awake or in the middle of sleeping. She loved dancing. She enjoyed camping, fishing and canning from their gardens. At family gatherings, she had special requests for fresh cooked or their canned garden vegetables, her homemade cornbread, lemon tea and Butterfinger cake. Breakfast, lunch and supper always began with thanks and prayer and ended with dessert after lunch and supper. At various properties they owned, including their 2-story cabin “the land” built mostly by family and friends, she enjoyed cooking/preparing meals for friends and family who gathered for hunting trips and fellowship. She had a passion for preparing the homegrown produce from their gardens. When family or anyone would stop by for a visit or otherwise, you would leave with their garden fresh vegetables or produce already canned. Oftentimes, family, friends and others who would hear of their bigger, better tasting vegetables, would call-in pick-up orders.
She is survived by three children: Lowell Steven “Steve” Morris (Rhonda), Connie Morris Brandon (Terry Rhodes), and Carla Morris Rader (Jeffrie “Jeff”). She leaves behind six grandchildren, Joshua “Josh” Rader, Jacob Brandon, Aaron Morris (Taylor), Ashton Rader (Christian “Crissi”), Brooks Morris and Breeanna “Bree” Rader. She also leaves behind six great-grandchildren, Halle Miller, Blake Rader, Kiley Rader, Kynlee Powell, Hunt Rader, Camilo Morris and a 7th great-grandchild, Bradford “Brady” Lowe Morris expected to arrive in May of this year.
Officiating Funeral Services: George A. Smith and Sons, North Chapel and Bro. Richard Bragg of Hope Life Church, Jackson, TN.
Visitation is to be held on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at George A. Smith and Sons, North Chapel from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with funeral services at 1:00 and burial to directly follow at Brownsville Memorial Gardens in Brownsville, Tennessee.
Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren, Joshua “Josh” Rader, Jacob Brandon, Ashton Rader, Aaron Morris, Brooks Morris and Breeanna “Bree” Rader with alternate honorary pallbearer her great grandson, Blake Rader. Pianist: Frank Neely. Soloist: Bonay Neely.
Dear to the family’s heart are The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, The American Cancer Society, and Hope Life Church (formerly Poplar Heights Baptist Church) Jackson, TN. Contributions in her honor are appreciated.
