Jo Ann Reed

1936 - 2026

The sun set for our mother, Jo Ann Reed, on Thursday, March 26, 2026, from the North MS Medical Center. She was born June 26, 1936, to the late Clarence and Marie Westmoreland Hussey. Our mother was an outgoing person and never met a stranger. She would strike up a conversation with anybody she met and always found something interesting to talk about. In fact, she might even decide they were related to her. She never ran out of anything to talk about. She married the love of her life, Arthur Roy Reed, on April 18, 1953. They were married for 63 years until he passed away on June 10, 2016. Their bond produced three wonderful daughters, Teresa Reed Estes, Tamara Reed Tillman and Tara Reed Shoop. Her family was very important to her and she loved them dearly. When she was able, she loved to prepare a meal for her family and enjoyed them very much. She was always talking about how much she enjoyed seeing those grandchildren eat and go back for seconds. That delighted her so much.

She was a faithful member of Andrews Chapel Community Church and attending church was a priority in her life. She became a member of the church at a very young age and took part in everything going on. She played the piano and organ for many years, which was one of her special talents. She loved her church and her church family. One thing she really enjoyed doing was attending the annual Methodist Conference with her husband. She also served at one time as the Lay Leader of her church. That was an enjoyable experience for her as she enjoyed getting to meet and greet people. She enjoyed playing specials at Sunday morning church services and always gave the history of each song she played.

She taught music for a number of years and she loved all of her students just like they were her own children. She worked for the Mississippi Employment Security Commission and retired from there.

She and Arthur Roy were always together and most of the time you did not see one without the other. They did everything together. One thing they enjoyed was square dancing and they went everywhere, far and wide, to get to square dance. That was another way of meeting and making new friends for them.

Our parents really enjoyed traveling together and traveled all over the country. They traveled to all of the States in the United States, The Holy Land, Europe and Australia and New Zealand and made many cruises to almost all of the islands in the Caribbean. Traveling was a highlight in their lives.

Grandmother Reed was a big sports fan and could talk sports with the best because she kept up with everyone even though she was a died in the wool Mississippi state Fan. It did not matter who was playing, she watched them anyway and even knew some of the players and coaches names as well.

Those left to cherish her memories are her three daughter, Teresa Estes and her husband, Lawrence of Houston, TX, Tamara Tillman of Houston, Texas and Tara Shoop and her husband, Greg of Birmingham, AL; her five grandchildren, Dr. Reed Estes and wife, Lauren of Birmingham, AL, Chris Estes and wife, Carrie of Houston, TX, Tyler Tillman and wife, Laura of Houston, TX, Corey Shoop and wife Paige of Birmingham, AL and Hunter Shoop and fiancé Molly Small of St. Petersburg, FL; nine great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Layne Estes, Lawson Reed Estes, Collier Grace Estes, Virginia Greer Estes, Trenton Cooper Tillman, Collins Olivia Estes, Carter Grace Estes, Jensen Wade Tillman and Bennett Williams Shoop; she is also survived by two sisters, Peggy Webb of Tupelo and Sandra Fortune and husband, Tom of Mountain city, TN; her sisters-in-law, Coy Williams and Varnell Reed; her brother-in law, Paul Reed and wife, Betty; numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Reed Estes, Chris Estes, Tyler Tillman, Corey Shoop, Hunter Shoop, Lawson Estes and her great-nephew, Bryan Reed. Honorary Pallbearers will be Seth Fortune, her great-grandchildren and her great-nephew, Asher Milsap, who was a big buddy to his aunt Jo Ann, Hadley Griffin, David Joseph Webb and Brent Reed.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 PM Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Andrews Chapel Community Church with Bro. Lance Carpenter officiating. Burial will follow in Andrews Chapel Cemetery. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

Visitation will be 12 - 2 Wednesday,

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Andrews Chapel Cemetery Fund, 1412A Hwy 371 Tupelo, MS 38804.

The family would like to thank the staff at NMMC-CCU for providing wonderful care for our mother.

For online condolences and guest registry, visit www.leememorialonline.com.