Joanne (Baxter) Small transitioned to be with her God on October 9, 2023 at 10:50 pm. She was born on February 18, 1954 in Akron, Ohio to Mrs. Irene (Baxter) Palmer and the late J.C. Avent. She, accepted Jesus as her personal savior and was a member of New Trinity Missionary Baptist Church. She attended West Jr. High and South High School. She worked and retired from STNA, she also worked at West Minister Nursing Home, Ford Motor Company, InfoCision, and Super K.

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Small; father J.C. Avent; brothers Anthony (Pee Wee) Baxter, Shelton Baxter, L.B. Avent, and R.D. Avent; sisters Minnie (Whatley) Miller, Anna Sue Avent, Mattie Jane (Avent) Gray, Delores (Avent) McCraney, and Lucille Ann Baxter.

She leaves to cherish her memories her daughters, Demetria Baxter Smith and Cawstesia Brown (Charles) Milner of Los Angels, CA; grandchildren Davone Smith, of Akron, OH, Darshon and David Smith of Los Angeles, CA, Madisyne Milner of Los Angles, CA, Tyesha Peters of Akron, OH, and Corey White of Columbus, OH; great grandchildren David, Darshon, Jr., and D’Angelo Smith, Heaven Peters all of Los Angeles, CA, Faith Israel Smith, DyShean Carter of Akron, OH, and Sayiah White of Columbus, OH; mother Irene (Baxter) Palmer; sisters Dr. Beulah Hamilton, Belinda Baxter, Easter May Ferguson of Akron, OH, and Juanita Bradley of Cleveland, OH; brother Attorney Mack (Gina) Baxter IV of Schaumburg, IL; her favorite aunts, Maggie Colvin of Akron, OH, Elizabeth Washington of Chicago, IL, and Mary Johnson of Detroit, MI.

All of the “Chi-Town”, Memphis and “Akronite” cousins whom she loved very much and special family and friends, Rita Vassar of Detroit, MI, Sylvia Ross, Rachel Travillian, James Wilson, Carmia Gwen and Tawana Moore all of Akron, OH, Bello Blevins and Charles Taylor of Memphis, TN, Laura Bounce of Fairview Towers; special daughter Vanita Thompson of Memphis, TN; and special niece-in-love A’ricka Render-Whatley of Atlanta, GA, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.