Joanne Campbell Ray departed this life very suddenly on Thursday, January 3, 2019.

Joanne was the eighth of eleven children born to Luther and Marie Campbell on December 15, 1945.  She was raised in a fun-loving, spiritual environment.  The family home became a gathering and eating place for many neighborhood children.  The family’s home church was always St. John C.M.E. which she remained faithful, involved and devoted till death.

She was a graduate of South High School and The University of Akron with a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Education.

On July 27, 1985, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Aaron Edward Ray.  Their love and dedication was admired by many.

Jo, as she was often called, was employed by Akron Public Schools as a teacher, a counselor, and a principal.  She retired in June of 2004 from Smith Elementary as Principal.  She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Masonic Order of Akron.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Charles, Bobby, Lucius and Lucas Campbell; sisters, Rosa Bourne, Annette Young, and Aretha Campbell.  She leaves to cherish her memory a loving and devoted husband, Aaron Ray; a loving nephew raised in her care, Dexter Campbell; stepsons, Kenneth, Karl and Kelly Ray; stepdaughters, Karen (Eric) Bryant, Kim (Mercer) Mitchell; goddaughter, Diane Brown; brother, Jeremiah (Maria) Campbell, Akron, OH; sisters, Jessie Jones, Dayton, OH, and Sherrylon Adams, Akron, OH; in-laws, Aria Campbell, Norton, OH, Sonja Campbell, Canton, OH, Geraldine Campbell, Staten Island, NY, and Vance Young, Copley, OH; close friends, Dorothy Liptrot Brown, Joyce Rowland and a host of grandchildren, nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.