Jo Ann Reynolds was born on August 11, 1949, in Talladega, Alabama to Henry and Bobbie Ann Reynolds. She was the second born of four girls. However, she was raised in Cleveland, Ohio.

She attended Cleveland Public schools, John Hay High School, and focused on business coursework. Jo Ann received an associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Dyke College in accounting. Over the years, she worked for many companies in their business departments. She worked for ADT, Durkee foods, SCM, and Office Max. She also lectured at colleges sharing her experiences in the field of business and accounting. At the end of her career, she retired from Forest City enterprises in 2018. After retiring she stayed home to care for her mother.

Jo Ann had a love of music. In her youth, she played the piano and sang in the church and all-city choir. She also formed a singing group with some of her classmates in high school. Jo Ann also enjoyed gardening and flowers. Every year she would plant a garden with her mother, aunt and siblings. As she got older her love for gardening continued and she would pot plants and flowers for her front porch as well as inside her home. She had a “Green Thumb”. Jo Ann enjoyed traveling. She would travel the country with her daughter during summer vacations. She would also travel with her sisters. They would return with endless stories of their adventures. Jo Ann was also a member of the professional organization Eta Phi Beta sorority. She enjoyed helping others as well as the sisterhood that was formed while being an active member. When Jo Ann was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, she determined to remain active. She would travel with her grandchildren and great grandchildren to historical destinations to learn about their history.

Jo Ann has a daughter Nicole (Deon), two grandchildren, Kayla and Deon Jr., and two great grandchildren Kaydence and Kayleigh. She leaves to remember her two sisters, Sallie and Sheila; Nephews Christopher Banks (Tiffany), and great nephews PJ and Maize and a host of family and friends.