JO ANN MERRITT WARD
June 22, 1956-June 26, 2015
Jo Ann Merritt Ward, 59, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., passed away peacefully on Friday, June 26, after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
Jo Ann was surrounded by the love of an incredible group of close friends and caregivers.
Her years were filled with great joy in all that she held dear -- family, friends and an incredible zest for life.
Preceded in death by her mother, Betty Jo Todd Merritt, and father, Ralph De Leon Merritt Jr., Jo Ann is survived by sisters, Cindy Merritt Roughgarden and husband, Frank Roughgarden, of Greensboro, Patricia Merritt Wilkins and husband, John Wilkins, of Raleigh; and a brother, Le Merritt and Millie Merritt, of Goldsboro.
Jo Ann was devoted to her nephews, Branan Roughgarden, Matthew Roughgarden and Jackson Wilkins, and niece, Emma Wilkins, all of whom she loved dearly.
Jo Ann was supported throughout her wonderful life by good friends Cindy Eden and Mack Carroll, as well as many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
Jo Ann adored her beautiful conure, Tango, and her Bernese mountain dog, Bear.
Jo Ann grew up in Goldsboro, N.C., lived in Raleigh and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
She graduated from East Carolina University in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing.
She was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority and a little sister at the Phi Tau Fraternity.
She was an outstanding employee at Bell South from 1978 to 2001 as a system designer, national account manager and computer science network engineer.
In 1991, Jo Ann served on the N.C. Advisory Board for the Secretary of State.
She was managing partner of Atlantic Interior and Antiques.
Jo Ann enjoyed many years of volunteer service on multiple boards and in various leadership roles at numerous civic and community organizations in Raleigh and Fort Lauderdale.
In 1996, as an outstanding employee of Bell South, Jo Ann was chosen to be a part of the Olympic Torchbearer Run through North Carolina for the Atlanta Olympics.
It was a great honor for her to proudly represent Bell South, North Carolina and the U.S. in this historic run.
Jo Ann enjoyed life to the fullest.
She traveled throughout the U.S., the Caribbean and abroad, including France, China and Russia.
She enjoyed exercising and was a competitive runner.
Jo Ann loved the outdoors and enjoyed deep-sea fishing and boating.
She earned her USCG Captain's License in 2001.
Being on her boat, out on the water, with the thrill of landing a big fish excited her and was one of her greatest joys.
Jo Ann was loved by so many and was known as a gentle and passionate champion and advocate for others.
A celebration of her life will be held at her home in Fort Lauderdale with a visitation at Fred Hunter's Funeral Home on June 28.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 2, at Community Funeral Home in Warsaw, N.C., with a graveside service at Golden Grove Cemetery in Kenansville, N.C.
Jo Ann will be laid to rest next to her mother.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice by the Sea at www.hbts.org or call 561-494-6887 to speak with a foundation representative.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on June 28, 2015 12:00 PM