JO ANN KNIGHT,
91, of Little Rock, passed to her Lord and Savior, on December 29, 2023. She was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Don Knight.
Jo Ann was born in Crossett, on November 3, 1932, the youngest child of Eula Shell Hightower and Herbert Hightower, both deceased. Her siblings, Harold Hightower and Betty Sue Fikes, also predeceased her.
Jo Ann and Don married at 19 years old, and spent the next 68 years traveling the world, entertaining friends new and old alike, and cherishing their family.
Jo Ann found much joy in spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her two daughters: Jan Eager (Jim), and Jill Gray (Stephen); her three grandchildren: Adam Gray (Kristen), Jana Law (Matthew), and Katie Jo Ballard (Dylan); and eight great-grandchildren: Stephen Everett Gray, Owen Jasper Gray, Eleanor Elizabeth Law, Gray Declan Ballard, Henley Jayne Ballard, Jackson Knight Law, Barrett Lewis Law, and Maxwell Whittington Law.
Jo Ann graduated high school, in Crossett, in 1950, and attended Ouachita Baptist University, where she sang with “The Ouachita Tones.” She never met a stranger, had an infectious laugh, and was an active participant for many years in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Welcome Wagon in Little Rock, where she served as President, and many bunko and bridge clubs. Her home was always open to friends and family, often with a delicious meal cooking in the kitchen.
Jo Ann spent 19 years working at the Pine Bluff Arsenal. She put her social and cooking skills to work, owning two successful restaurants: Catfish Cove (28 years) and Poncho’s (12 years). Jo Ann used her beautiful voice to honor her Savior, Jesus Christ, even having the opportunity to sing with the Billy Graham Choir. She was an active member in the First Baptist Church, in Pine Bluff, for over 30 years, before she and Don moved to Little Rock in 1992, where she became an active member in the First Baptist Church in Little Rock.
There is no doubt from anyone that knew Jo Ann that she was a great woman who loved her family and friends, and by all accounts, had a wonderful, blessed life. She had great strength and was a woman of great loyalty to those she loved.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to First Baptist Church in Little Rock, or the charity of your choice.
A visitation with the family will be held at Fuller Hale-South Funeral Home, in Pine Bluff, at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 5, 2023, followed by a Memorial Service at 2 p.m. Jo Ann will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, in Pine Bluff, beside Don.
For online condolences, please visit: FullerFunerals.com.