Jo Anne Cheeks

On November 6, 1954 Mamie and Daniel Lee Robinson was blessed with a beautiful baby girl who them named Joann. She was the 7th child of 10 children born to that union. Joann confessed faith at an early age and joined with the Shady Grove Baptist Church in Miller Ferry, under the leadership of Rev. A. L. McCall. She was active in various auxiliaries including Sunday school, Sunbeam Band, and the junior choir. Joann childhood was spent in Millers Ferry, AL where she attended Wilcox County Training School (WCTS) from kindergarten to eleventh grade where she was a cheerleader for the Tigers. In 1973 her class was relocated to Camden Academy High School in Camden, Alabama where she graduated with the class of 1974 bulldogs. Upon graduating that same year she moved to Boston, MA. In 1977 she met Larry Cheeks and on June 12, 1992 they rededicated their love for one another and were married. Joann was employed by the Common Wealth of Massachusetts the Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD) while working she attended Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA and received her certificate in Human Services from Lesley College in Boston, MA. She worked there for many years “and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Roman 8:28. In 2003 Joann and Larry relocated to his hometown of Oakwood, GA where she remained until God called her home. Joann departed this earthly life on January 14, 2016 at her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mamie and Daniel Lee Robinson; her daughter, Parish Cheeks; brothers, David Lee Robinson, Jr., Joseph, Richard, Jimmy Robinson and Jeffery Robinson; one nephew, Derrick Steward; aunts and uncles, Benjamin Wright, Jr., Elizabeth Saulsberry, Virginia Wright, Betty Johnson, R. C. Wright, Luella Quarles, and Flarilla Taylor. Her memories will forever be cherish by a loving and devoted husband, Larry Cheeks; her children, Maurice (Stephanie) Robinson, Aton (Siera) Dante` (Krystatline) and Jermaine Cheeks; grandchildren, Zakhia, Alyce, Dior Cheeks, Typrese, Victoria and Andrew Robinson; along with eight other grandchildren that she loved dearly and eight great -grandchildren; two brothers, Wade (Mary) Robinson and Jesse (Oletha) Robinson; two devoted sisters, Polly Steward and Jacqueline (Carl Lee) Saulsberry of Camden, AL; three brothers -in -law, Lewis Cheeks, Alvin (Carolyn) Cheeks and Anthony (Ferie) Cheeks; aunts and uncles, Luvenia (Henry) Miller, Merrilla (Robert) George, Martha (Columbus) Boykin, Holbert Wright, Ellen Cheeks, Mable Lee Sutton, Eva Stephen; twenty -one nieces and nephews; twenty -three great nieces and nephews; special cousins and friends, Alfreda Miller Benjamin, Flora McNeil, Theresa Miller, Nalenia Scott, Hattie Bridges, Rose Primm and Ralph Boykin; along with other relatives and friends to numerous to name. Funeral service will be held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Oakwood on Saturday January 23, 2016 at 1:00pm. Professorial services entrusted to Wimberly and Jackson Funeral Home.