Jo Ann Phillips Anderson, age 65, of Shreveport, LA formerly of Caryville, FL went home to be with the Lord on May 26, 2023.
On a spring morning on March 26, 1958, Blanche and Clayton Phillips welcomed their youngest of four daughters, Jo Ann into their Caryville, Florida household. She was the youngest of four girls, who lived a full life until May 26, 2023, when she transitioned to the heavenly concourse on high to her new home.
Jo Ann grew up in Caryville, attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and transferred to Vernon High School and graduated with a high school diploma in 1976. There she was selected as a beauty queen to participate in the Annual Watermelon Festival. After graduating from high school, she received an associate degree from Chipola Junior College (now Chipola College) and then attended University of South Florida in Tampa.
In Tampa she met her former husband, Warren Anderson and they welcomed their three children,
Warren Edwin Anderson (predeceased) (Janelle), Clayton Phillip Anderson (Charity) and Larissa Andrea Anderson. Through her children’s marriages, she became a grandmother, known only as “Gigi.” Her grandchildren are Jasiya Maranne Anderson, Jourdan Edwin Anderson, Jaxon Lamar Anderson from Janelle and Edwin’s marriage. Clayton Phillip and Charity Lorett Anderson gave her Amaryse Yelena Anderson and Camden Josiah Anderson. They all filled her with joy.
After reaching adulthood, Jo Ann resided in Tampa, Florida; Satellite Beach, Florida; Sacramento, California; St Paul, Minnesota; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Dallas, Texas while she worked for FedEx for more than thirty years. She recently retired.
In each city Jo Ann lived, she always found a church and became an active member from ministering, to teaching children’s classes to ushering. That commitment to Christ and to living a Christian life began at the Spirit-Filled Church of God in Christ in Caryville under the leadership of Elder Gene Banks. In Sacramento, she met Pastors Nadell and Carol Fullwood who became her shepherds and remained an important part of her and her children’s lives beyond the church doors. They became an extended family.
Jo Ann leaves to mourn her parents Clayton and Blanche Phillips of Wimauma and Caryville, her children: Clayton Phillip Anderson (Charity) of Shreveport, Louisiana, Larissa “Andrea” Anderson of Dallas, Texas; her siblings: Bettye Davis of Caryville, Florida; Brenda “BJ” Biandudi (Celestin) of Wimauma; Evelyn Newman Phillips of New Britain, Connecticut; her aunts and an uncle: Ernestine Works; Athalene Tolden (Robert Tolden predeceased); and James Leamon Phillips (Elosie). Plus, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends mourn her transition.
She is a descendant of Columbus “Bud” and Ella Phillips, her paternal grandparents of Caryville and Carrie Newman Roberts, her maternal grandmother of Caryville, (all predeceased).
In her spare time, she enjoyed photography and collecting Depression era and crystal glassware.
A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, June 3, 2023 in the sanctuary of Spirit Filled Church of God in Christ in Caryville, Florida. She will be laid to rest in the church cemetery under the directions of Christian Memorial Chapel of Graceville, Florida.
