Jo Anne Whatley Nicholson, 82, of Lawrence, MS, went home to be with the Lord Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019 at her home in Lawrence. She was born Friday, Oct. 8, 1937. Visitation was held 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Newton County Funeral Home-South.
Funeral services were held 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 at First Baptist Church of Newton. Burial followed at Newton County Memorial Gardens. Rev. Mark Vincent and Rev. Mark Kilgore officiated. Newton County Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. 601-635-3200
Jo Anne was a 1955 graduate of Newton High School where she enjoyed athletics, 4-H Club work and was involved in the youth department of the Methodist Church. She completed a business course at Draughon’s Business College in Jackson in 1956 and had begun employment at the Newton Record when she married Melvin C. Nicholson on Sept. 7, 1956.
Jo Anne always loved children and enjoyed being a 4-H leader for 54 years. She was honored with a State 4-H Alumni recognition award in 1969. She was mother to four children, grandmother to 10, great-grandmother to 6, aunt to 11, and “second” mother to many 4-Hers and Sunday School students. Her Christ-like example, energy, creativity and enthusiastic love for kids made a positive difference in the lives of her family members and the many children she worked with over the years.
Jo Anne was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, taught Sunday School and worked in Vacation Bible School for most of her life. She was past president and board member of The Newton Theatre Company. She also enjoyed performing in numerous theatre productions. She was active in the Mississippi Holstein Association serving as secretary for many years. She was a respected judge in dairy shows in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.
Her other passions were riding horses, working on the dairy farm and showing Registered Holsteins with her family. Some of her fondest memories are of she and Melvin traveling with Kristin and Chase to dairy shows in Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Texas, Alabama and New York showing their All-American Holstein cow. Some of her closest friends became the families from across Mississippi who also showed cows and horses.
She was preceded in death by parents, Bilbo and Annie Merle Whatley; brother, James Whatley; and brother-in-law, J. L. “Creeper” Nelson.
Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Melvin C. Nicholson; sons, Mel Nicholson (Debbie) and Ronny Nicholson (Denise); daughters, Teri Capshaw (David) and Jo Beth Bounds (Jeff); sisters, Mary Beth Nelson and June DePriest (Joe); grandchildren, Kristin Moore (Michael), Chase Nicholson, Dr. Chance Nicholson (Kristin), Paige Bergeron (Kenny), Katelyn Nicholson, Craig Nicholson, Nicole Ethridge (Jay), Dr. Kelsey Bounds, Ross Bounds and Noah Capshaw; great-grandchildren, Rylan, Kellen, Emerson Moore, Sky Nicholson, Addie and Grady Bergeron; nephews, Joel Nelson (Vicki), Steve Nelson (Angie), Bill DePriest (Debbie), Rodney DePriest (Becki), Jamie Whatley (Gina) and Scotty Gibson (Patty); and nieces, Anne Marie Massingill (Dr. Scott), Cathy DePriest South (Dr. Donnie), Angela Whatley, Linda Adkins (Tim), and Ginger McMillan (Rusty).
Pallbearers were grandsons, Chase Nicholson, Chance Nicholson, Noah Capshaw, Craig Nicholson and Ross Bounds; special friend and cousin, Jeremy Bounds; and grandsons-in-law, Kenny Bergeron, Jay Ethridge and Michael Moore.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Jo Anne Nicholson 4-H Scholarship Fund. Mail donations to: MSU Extension, Newton County Cattleman’s Association, P. O. Box 188, Decatur, MS 39327.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.newtoncountyfuneralhome.com
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