Jo Ann Temple

Jo Ann Onley Temple, age 85, of Elizabeth City, NC, died at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Born in Nixonton Township of Pasquotank County, NC, on January 15, 1941, to the late John A. Onley and Annie Marie Sanders Onley, she was the wife of Deronda "Ronnie" Cortez Temple III for 62 years.

A member of Blackwell Memorial Baptist Church, Jo Ann was a preschool teacher there for 19 years. She then decided to stay at home to watch her grandchildren. Family was her life, and she loved spending time with them at the beach for beach week. She loved the Lord and made sure her children and grandchildren were raised on a solid foundation of faith.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Patricia Temple Crank (Kevin), Sandra Temple Boyd (Troy), and Melissa Temple Stallings (Allen); a son, Deronda "Randy" Cortez Temple IV; two sisters, Rita Brothers (Michael) and Connie Spruill (Joseph); seven grandchildren, Michael "Andrew" Lilley, Brittany Crank, Carson Crank, Bladen Boyd, Kylie Boyd, Kenley Stallings, and Addisyn Stallings; a great-grandson, Hunter Lilley; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Maxine Onley.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Twiford Memorial Chapel with Barbara Williams officiating. Burial will take place at New Hollywood Cemetery. The family will greet family and friends immediately following the service at the funeral home and at all other times, at her daughter and son-in-law's house, Melissa and Allen's residence, 729 Turnpike Road, Belvidere, NC 27919. Jo Ann's service will be live streamed on her obituary page at www.TwifordFH.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Blackwell Memorial Baptist Church Preschool, 700 N. Road Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, or to Angelman Syndrome Foundation (https://angelman.org/ways-to-donate/), 3015 E. New York Street, Suite A2#285, Aurora, IL 60504 in honor of her grandson, Carson Crank.

Twiford Funeral Homes, 405 E. Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC, is serving the Temple family. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.