Jo Sitton Roper

1950 - 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - It is with profound sadness and loss, our family announces the passing on Sept. 2, 2025, of our beloved Jo Sitton Marshall Roper, wife, mother and grandmother, better known by her four grandchildren as "JoJo" ("the Great").
Born on March 21,1950, in Lancaster, S.C., Jo was the second daughter to Margaret Ann Sitton Marshall and Harold Hatton Marshall. She was named for her maternal grandfather, Joe Sitton, and her sister Clara, named for their paternal grandmother, experienced wholesome childhoods in Lancaster, and although they were two and one-half years apart in age, they remained "roomies" until Clara left for college. Many of the sisters' early life adventures and most memorable moments came about less than an hour from home when the two sisters were together at the family lakefront "river-house," spending time with their lake friends, aka "River Rats" and invited guests.
Although bonded as sisters, while still in high school, each began to follow her own path, socially and academically. Clara pursued her interest in music and art, while Jo pursued participation in the girls' basketball team, and both sisters assisted their parents in the family-owned businesses. Following Jo's high school graduation, Jo and Clara reunited at Columbia College in Columbia, S.C., and following their college and graduate school graduations the "bond" never wavered nor broken.
Jo completed her undergraduate degree in three years (1971) following which she and John married on July 17, 1971. Jo then entered the workforce as a schoolteacher, a teaching career which spanned more than four decades. Following his graduation, John experienced several progressive work opportunities, which led to physical household moves to several new geographic locations. In 1974, Jo and John became parents to their first child, John Tyler Roper, and 1974 their second child, Kelley Jo Roper, each of whom are now themselves parents to two children.
"JoJo the Great," as she was known by her grandchildren, loved life, loved God and glorified Him and his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, as her Lord and Savior. Jo loved life, which was filled with adventures, close friends, her many students and their families. Jo loved John's family, John's siblings, brother Jim whom Jo has now joined in heaven and his family, brother Charles and sister Sarah Jane, husband Benny and their wonderful family. Jo revered the deep and abiding love for her very best friend and guardian sister Clara Rogers, her husband Wayne, and their family of Jo's cherished nieces and nephews and their children and, most importantly to her Jo's own immediate family she and John shared during their 54 years of marriage, especially their children, John Tyler Roper, Kelley Jo Roper Garrity, son-in-law Michael Joseph Garrity and their grandchildren, Lillian Jo Garrity, William Garrity, Eleanor Roper and Elizabeth Roper.
The family is grateful for the outpouring of love from near and far, for the support of the St. John's Cathedral church family for its care, love, and guidance it has given to the family. Likewise, these past days would have been unbearable without our Lord and Savior and the prayers and support of family, our many and dear friends, and each other. THANK YOU!
*Celebration of Life: Jo Sitton Marshall Roper, Sept. 27, 2025, 2 p.m., St. John's Episcopal Cathedral (main sanctuary), 413 Cumberland Ave. (corner of Cumberland Ave. and Walnut St., Knoxville, TN)* Live streaming will be available on YouTube:sjcknox.