Jo Ann Hamilton Davis was born on December 9, 1940, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the oldest of six children born to Theodore Barrow Hamilton and Etta Geneva Flynn. She passed away peacefully on November 16, 2025, with her loved ones by her side in Los Angeles, California, where she resided with her daughter, son-in-law, and three grandsons.
Jo Ann was charming, kind, loving, and generous. She cared deeply for her family and friends, cherishing the time she spent with them over all else.
From an early age, Jo Ann was nurtured by her mother to dance and pursue her talents and dreams. She grew up attending Katherine Davis's dance school, became an accomplished dancer and baton twirler, and was a majorette at Istrouma High School, graduating in 1958. During her high school days, she had many wonderful dance partners and was an inspiration to the young baton twirlers she taught.
Immediately after high school, Jo Ann attended LSU and was a member of the first LSU Ballet Corps group, known today as the "Golden Girls." She loved being a Golden Girl and was proud when the group appeared on the cover of Life magazine. After two years at LSU, with her family's support, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting. She went home often to visit her family and friends in Baton Rouge, a tradition she maintained throughout her life.
Once in New York, Jo Ann, attended and graduated from the American Musical & Dramatic Theatre Academy (AMDA) as a member of its second graduating class in 1965. She was a wonderful actress and performed in many television, film, and theatrical productions in NYC. Jo Ann also worked for many years behind the scenes in the film industry and was a valued part of Showtime's New York office. During her time at Showtime, Jo Ann returned to school to complete her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Marymount College in 1991.
After AMDA, Jo Ann stayed in New York, carving out an adventurous life for herself. It was there she met Mark Davis. With her father's blessing and a dress made by her mother that she cut off to mini length, they were married in a simple but beautiful service at the small chapel at the United Nations, surrounded by their close-knit group of New York City theatre friends. Jo Ann's ability to make and be a true friend was one of the qualities that made her so special.
When they were first married, Jo Ann and Mark had a dog named Alfie, an adopted poodle/collie mix who was a beloved girl and joined them on all their adventures. Friends would often see the odd but loving trio riding around Manhattan and the outer boroughs on their moped, with Alfie on the back wearing goggles, a helmet, and a scarf.
Their family grew when they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Kim Barrow Davis. Upon his daughter's arrival, Mark immediately traded the moped for a "safe" car—an endearing gesture that always made Jo Ann laugh. Becoming a mother was one of the greatest joys of Jo Ann's life. She shared her love of acting and the arts with her daughter, and their close, loving relationship meant everything to her.
In her later years, Jo Ann spent much of her time traveling between New York and Los Angeles, becoming a staple at her grandsons' acting, dancing, jazz, and rock music performances. She was thrilled that all three of her grandsons shared her passion for the performing arts and was endearingly called by them as "Ma."
Jo Ann was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, great aunt and friend. She was always up for a competitive game of Scrabble, a Crawfish Boil, or a night out in NYC for Chinese food with friends. If you knew her, you knew to ask the waiter for "extra sauce" when ordering. Jo Ann will be missed by many, and our days will not be the same without her.
Jo Ann is survived by her daughter, Barrow Davis-Tolot; son-in-law, Elio Tolot; grandsons, Luca Battista Tolot, Alessandro Matteo Tolot, and Sebastiano Teodoro Tolot, aka "Shark"; sister, Ginger Hamilton Speer and her husband Kenneth; nieces Jodi Hamilton Rumfola and her husband Sam, Brandie Hamilton Olsen and her husband Tiger, Sarah Speer Rodrigue and her husband Max, and JoNell Hamilton Bolton and her husband Kalum; and nephew, Matthew Hamilton Speer and his wife Jenny. She also had numerous great-nieces and nephews that she adored.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore B. Hamilton and Etta Flynn; her late husband, Mark Davis; and her brothers, Theodore Hamilton Jr., Douglas Hamilton, Ronald Hamilton, and Donald Hamilton; niece Tracy Elizabeth Hamilton; and nephews Robby Hamilton and Jason Brian Hamilton.
We ask that you hold Jo Ann close in your hearts and keep her memory bright, imagining her as a bird flying in the morning light. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers as she is now at rest with all of those she loved who have passed on before her. Jo Ann's ashes will be spread at sea in a private family ceremony with her grandsons serenading her on guitar. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your local animal shelter in her name, to honor her lifelong love of animals.
Jo Ann was charming, kind, loving, and generous. She cared deeply for her family and friends, cherishing the time she spent with them over all else.
From an early age, Jo Ann was nurtured by her mother to dance and pursue her talents and dreams. She grew up attending Katherine Davis's dance school, became an accomplished dancer and baton twirler, and was a majorette at Istrouma High School, graduating in 1958. During her high school days, she had many wonderful dance partners and was an inspiration to the young baton twirlers she taught.
Immediately after high school, Jo Ann attended LSU and was a member of the first LSU Ballet Corps group, known today as the "Golden Girls." She loved being a Golden Girl and was proud when the group appeared on the cover of Life magazine. After two years at LSU, with her family's support, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting. She went home often to visit her family and friends in Baton Rouge, a tradition she maintained throughout her life.
Once in New York, Jo Ann, attended and graduated from the American Musical & Dramatic Theatre Academy (AMDA) as a member of its second graduating class in 1965. She was a wonderful actress and performed in many television, film, and theatrical productions in NYC. Jo Ann also worked for many years behind the scenes in the film industry and was a valued part of Showtime's New York office. During her time at Showtime, Jo Ann returned to school to complete her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Marymount College in 1991.
After AMDA, Jo Ann stayed in New York, carving out an adventurous life for herself. It was there she met Mark Davis. With her father's blessing and a dress made by her mother that she cut off to mini length, they were married in a simple but beautiful service at the small chapel at the United Nations, surrounded by their close-knit group of New York City theatre friends. Jo Ann's ability to make and be a true friend was one of the qualities that made her so special.
When they were first married, Jo Ann and Mark had a dog named Alfie, an adopted poodle/collie mix who was a beloved girl and joined them on all their adventures. Friends would often see the odd but loving trio riding around Manhattan and the outer boroughs on their moped, with Alfie on the back wearing goggles, a helmet, and a scarf.
Their family grew when they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Kim Barrow Davis. Upon his daughter's arrival, Mark immediately traded the moped for a "safe" car—an endearing gesture that always made Jo Ann laugh. Becoming a mother was one of the greatest joys of Jo Ann's life. She shared her love of acting and the arts with her daughter, and their close, loving relationship meant everything to her.
In her later years, Jo Ann spent much of her time traveling between New York and Los Angeles, becoming a staple at her grandsons' acting, dancing, jazz, and rock music performances. She was thrilled that all three of her grandsons shared her passion for the performing arts and was endearingly called by them as "Ma."
Jo Ann was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, great aunt and friend. She was always up for a competitive game of Scrabble, a Crawfish Boil, or a night out in NYC for Chinese food with friends. If you knew her, you knew to ask the waiter for "extra sauce" when ordering. Jo Ann will be missed by many, and our days will not be the same without her.
Jo Ann is survived by her daughter, Barrow Davis-Tolot; son-in-law, Elio Tolot; grandsons, Luca Battista Tolot, Alessandro Matteo Tolot, and Sebastiano Teodoro Tolot, aka "Shark"; sister, Ginger Hamilton Speer and her husband Kenneth; nieces Jodi Hamilton Rumfola and her husband Sam, Brandie Hamilton Olsen and her husband Tiger, Sarah Speer Rodrigue and her husband Max, and JoNell Hamilton Bolton and her husband Kalum; and nephew, Matthew Hamilton Speer and his wife Jenny. She also had numerous great-nieces and nephews that she adored.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore B. Hamilton and Etta Flynn; her late husband, Mark Davis; and her brothers, Theodore Hamilton Jr., Douglas Hamilton, Ronald Hamilton, and Donald Hamilton; niece Tracy Elizabeth Hamilton; and nephews Robby Hamilton and Jason Brian Hamilton.
We ask that you hold Jo Ann close in your hearts and keep her memory bright, imagining her as a bird flying in the morning light. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers as she is now at rest with all of those she loved who have passed on before her. Jo Ann's ashes will be spread at sea in a private family ceremony with her grandsons serenading her on guitar. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your local animal shelter in her name, to honor her lifelong love of animals.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jo Ann Hamilton Davis, please visit our flower store.
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