Joann Macon

Jo Ann Macon was born October 11, 1937, to the union of James Henry and Nora Lee Macon, in Birmingham, AL. Jo Ann and her younger sister, Helen, were raised under the Methodist faith and were members of Old Ship AME Zion Church.

Always a close-knit family, Jo Ann and Helen grew up with their other “sisters”, Willadeane and Nora.  Though they were actually the children of Jo Ann’s Aunt Willie Mae (Aunt Bill), the relationship of “cousin” never existed in their minds.  Jo Ann, Helen, Willadeane (Deanie Baby) and Nora, were inseparable. From birth through adulthood, these four ladies shared a bond that was never broken. Many years later, Willadeane and Nora’s brother, Derek, was added to this special group of siblings. Even though Jo Ann’s family moved to New York in 1949, no distance could separate the love these four little girls had for each other.  Until the day when Jo Ann could no longer speak, her sisters telephoned her on a nightly basis.

Jo Ann received her formal education in the New York public school system.  After graduating Roosevelt High School, she immediately applied to Harlem School of Nursing. Initially, Jo Ann was denied admission because she was 10 days short of being old enough to be a nursing student, but God has always been the guiding light for this phenomenal woman. Harlem School of Nursing made an exception and allowed Jo Ann to enroll. That was one of many times that God looked out for His angel.

After graduating from Harlem School of Nursing in 1958, Jo Ann got her first nursing position at Harlem Hospital in New York, NY. In 1962, the city of Chicago beckoned her to start a new life in the Windy City. It was there in Chicago where she met, Willa Crusoe, who became her lifelong partner. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration at Roosevelt University and started her career in nursing.

In 1962, Jo Ann obtained a nursing position at Michael Reese Hospital.  In 1963, she left Michael Reese for a position with the Chicago Dept. of Public Health (CDPH). Always a nurturer, creator and innovator, Jo Ann’s extensive career included many notable accomplishments, including Nursing Supervisor, Regional Supervisor and finally retiring as Director of Family Case Management in 1998.  She was the co-creator of Robert Taylor Initiative (RTI), a national model program for improving health outcomes.

Jo Ann became a member of First Church of Deliverance, under the leadership of the late Rev. Clarence H. Cobbs, in 1962.  She was Group Captain of the CHC 1978 Group and later became one of the supervisors FCD Children’s Church. Later, under the leadership of Rev. James R. Bryson, Jr., Jo Ann was inducted onto the FCD Mothers Board. This was such a befitting position, since Jo Ann was a nurturer to all, regardless of whether you were a child or an adult.

Though she never gave birth to any children of her own, Jo Ann informally adopted many children who were continuously blessed with the loving touch and kind words of “Mama Jo” over the years.  Jo Ann stood before God in 1980 with her first godchild, IL State Representative, Justin Slaughter.  In 1992 and 1997, Jo Ann and Willa, officially christened their “Sugas”, Aaron and Arianna Adams, as their godchildren.

In her later years, Jo Ann moved into the home of Racheal Adams and her children, Aaron and Arianna. Racheal had the honor of caring for Jo Ann, shopping with her, traveling and having long meaningful conversations.  This special bond lasted from the day they met in 1990, until the day that Jo Ann took her last breath.

On Sunday, March 28, 2021, Jo Ann left her family, friends and loved ones to make her transition to her heavenly home.

Jo Ann leaves to mourn: her loving Sisters, Helen Mitchell, Nora Green (Coram, NY), Nora Green (Birmingham, AL), and Willadeane Roberts (McDonough, GA); Brother Derek (Karyl) Clayton; Nephews, Randolph Scott and Darren James (Coram, NY); and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, friends and her family at First Church of Deliverance.