Joann Walton

JoAnn Smith Walton of Morton, MS went to be with her Lord on Wednesday December 27, 2017.  Mrs. Walton was born on July 3, 1950 in Wilmington, NC.  She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph J. Smith Sr. and Betty Murray Smith of Hampstead, NC.  Mrs. Walton is survived by her loving husband of 46 years Rev. Geary T. Walton also of Morton, MS.  She is also survived by her son Kevin Walton and daughter Michelle Crain and her husband Jeff and grandson Joshua Crain.  JoAnn is survived by her brother Joseph J. Smith Jr., his wife Crystal and her sister Jeanette Edens, her husband Chris Sr.  She is also survived by her nephews Joseph J. Smith III, wife Alena and their children Zoe and Jax, Jeffery S. Smith, wife Erin and their children Maggie and Brewer, and Christopher Edens, Jr., and her niece Kelly E. Mauldin, husband Matthew and their children Austin and Alyssa.

JoAnn graduated from Topsail High School in Hampstead, NC and furthered her education at Cape Fear Community College and Campbell University.  She worked in the Campus Ministers office at Campbell University and was an Administrative Assistant at the NC Baptist State Convention for 16 years.  She loved all music and enjoyed singing with the Sweet Adelines Chorus and quartet as well as ministering alongside her husband as the music director in several of the churches in which he pastored.  This love of music came from singing and harmonizing with her family from a very young age.  She was also instrumental in the production of many cantatas and living nativities all over the state of North Carolina. She was the embodiment of southern hospitality, from her congenial spirit to her ever welcoming smile.  No one ever entered her home that didn’t feel welcome and no one ever left without feeling like family.  She had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in the world in that moment and she genuinely believed that you were.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 11:00am at Branch Baptist Church, 3997 Measels Road, Morton, MS  39117.  Services will be officiated by Dr. Keith Grubbs with graveside to follow at the church cemetery.   Visitation will be Friday, December 29, 2017 from 6pm – 8pm at Ott & Lee Funeral Home Morton, MS.  Pallbearers will be David Dewitt, Clay Bates, Dustin Smith, Jason Weaver, Michael Ray Latham and Michael Latham.

The family would like to thank our Branch Baptist and Park Place Baptist Church families for all of their prayers and support during these difficult months.  We would also like to thank the staff at Brandon Nursing and Rehab for providing such loving care to our wife and momma during her stay at your facility as well as the staff at HomeCare Hospice for their support during her final hours.  We would also like to express our gratitude to Dr. Michael Albert for his wisdom and guidance during this difficult journey.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made in her honor to either Samaritan’s Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org or HomeCare Hospice.

Ott & Lee Funeral Home - Morton   Telephone: (601) 732-6571