JOANN KING

Mrs. JoAnn King, 71, of Glendale, Arizona died on July 5, 2021, in Phoenix, Arizona.  She was born on April 24, 1950, in Amarillo, Texas to LC Wilbon and Vera Smith.

On April 24, 1950, in Amarillo, Texas, L.C. Wilbon and Vera Smith gave birth to their one and only daughter, whom they named JoAnn after her paternal great grandfather Joe Wilbon.  JoAnn had a beautiful smile almost from birth and brought joy and happiness to her family, as well as a healthy helping of spice.

JoAnn was followed by her twin brothers, Donnie and Ronnie, then Herbert, Freddie, and Billy. With her five younger brothers in tow, JoAnn ruled the crew with the sticks of her fingernails and pinches.  Nevertheless, her brothers protected their only sister ferociously and loved her completely all of her life.

JoAnn attended the all-black school, George Washington Carver School, in Pampa, Texas, where her family moved when she was about 7 years old. JoAnn had good memories of attending Carver, and often told stories of the beloved and feared principal, Professor Randall, whom she said would not hesitate to discipline his students in or out of school if they misbehaved. JoAnn did not graduate from Carver, however, because she was in high school when Pampa schools integrated and she was part of the first class of black students to attend Pampa High School in 1966. JoAnn would explain that her attendance at Pampa High School was spotty at best because of her best friend Josephine Dunn Payne, whom she said was the culprit for her skipping school.  According to JoAnn, if it hadn’t been for Josephine, she could’ve been a doctor.

JoAnn found humor in every part of her life, good or bad. This was part of her strength and courage and triumph.

JoAnn’s devotion in her life was her family. For about eight years, in the late sixties to late seventies, JoAnn raised her first born daughter Tammy Denise, with the help of her parents and brothers. Then in 1977, JoAnn fell in love with a friend, Charles Junior King, who had actually been in pursuit of her romantically for some time. The unlikely couple got married on February 10, 1978, and shortly thereafter welcomed two more daughters—Charzetta Rochelle in 1978, and Vera Renell in 1980.

JoAnn raised her family in Pampa, Texas, doing various professions, including working as a cafeteria lady and custodian at various Pampa schools, a domestic worker cleaning the homes of various families in the community and some businesses, and babysitting children in the community. Also, in 1985, JoAnn and Charles opened an after-hours joint dubbed King’s Place on the south side of Pampa. There, JoAnn showcased her excellent cooking skills. King’s Place became famous for her hamburger and fried catfish dinners, and occasionally, she would serve soul food such as chitterling (chitlun) dinners with potato salad as well. JoAnn enjoyed very much being the co-owner and head cook at King’s Place—it combined two of her favorite things—cooking good food and having a good time. Even after King’s Place closed, JoAnn continued cooking for the community, baking cakes and providing dinners out of her home.

In the late 80’s JoAnn and Charles closed King’s Place, shortly after which, she and Charles decided to devote their lives to, and depend on the provision of God. They became members of the Macedonia Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend I.L. Patrick. They were very active members and became key leaders of the youth ministry there. Later, JoAnn and Charles attended New Hope Baptist Church in Pampa under the leadership of Reverend Vern C. Martin and later T. J. Patterson.  Eventually, JoAnn served as the church secretary, as well as working at the youth ministry. JoAnn loved God and believed to the end in His power, love, and sovereignty in her life.  We rejoice that she rests in His arms now.

JoAnn loved music and would often “go to the club”—the name she gave to going to her bedroom and blasting R&B and old-school rap music played on the radio station 104.5 in Dallas. She also loved reading books, especially books about true crime and celebrities’ lives. Though the family never benefitted from the estate, JoAnn’s children were convinced that they were related to Elvis Presley as JoAnn read every book written about him and talked about him as though she knew him often.

JoAnn also loved horror movies and enjoyed to the full scaring the b’Jesus out of even her own children. She would hide for hours in the family shower just so that she could jump out at her eldest daughter when she went to the bathroom. This may be one reason why her eldest daughter needs therapy to this day. Finally, until her hands stopped allowing her to, JoAnn loved to play her video games (mainly Old School Ms. Pac Man) and was an avid reality, show competition watcher and voter for American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and the Voice.

The joy of JoAnn’s life, however, became her two grandchildren, David Lane, Jr. and Marie Danyelle McGrew. Their births in Dallas to her youngest daughter, Vera, caused JoAnn to uproot her husband and home and move to Dallas in 2005. There she became a very active part in their upbringing.  At the end of her life, JoAnn had to fight for language and clarity, but fight she did.  And when she found her words and thoughts, she used them to express love to her family and to say of her granddaughter Mimi, whom she knew had graduated with honors this year and was headed to university, “I am so proud of her; she is always doing something.” And to say of her grandson, when she saw his face, “That’s my handsome grandson.”

JoAnn will be dearly missed, but she lived the life God gave her to the fullest and leaves this legacy of joy, strength and courage to everyone she loved.

JoAnn is survived by her husband, Charles J. King

Her daughters:  Tammy Wilbon-Smith of Glendale, AZ, and her husband George; Charzetta Rochelle King of Dallas, TX; Vera Renell King of Duncanville, Texas; and Tanisha Lee Wilbon of Grand Prairie, TX, who is her honorary daughter, as well as her niece.

Her brothers:    Donnie Wilbon of Pampa, TX; Herbert Wilbon (“Tainty”) of San Antonio, TX and his wife Alva; Freddie Wilbon of Tulsa, OK; and Billy Wilbon of Houston, TX and his wife Mary.

Her grandchildren:  David Lane McGrew, Jr. and Marie Danyelle McGrew, both of Duncanville, TX; Jasmine McGrew of Dallas, TX, and her great granddaughter, Derrianna Jackson, also of Dallas, TX.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her beloved father, L.C. Wilbon, her mother, Vera Wilbon, and her brother Ronnie Wilbon, whom we believe waited for her, stayed with her, and escorted her to her new heavenly home.

JoAnn is also survived by countless loved ones—including nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family as well as beloved friends and her beloved grandpets:  Parker, Theo, Boci, Blue, and M&M.

SERVICE INFORMATION

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 16, 2021, at Golden Gate Funeral Home at 4155 South R.L. Thornton Freeway Dallas, Texas 75224.

A repass will follow the service at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 16, 2021, at Laurel Land Celebration Center at 6300 South R.L. Thornton Freeway Dallas, Texas 75232.

There will be no burial ceremony after the funeral.