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Jo Ann Reel Pope

Jo Ann Reel Pope

     Jo Ann Reel Pope, 85, of Loudon, Tennessee passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at the Fort Loudoun Medical Center.

     Jo Ann was the only girl born to the late Claude and Genevie (Smith) Reel in Pikeville, Tennessee. She grew up with four brothers who loved to pick at her but taught her how to be strong. Jo Ann and her husband Jim, liked to say they grew up together. Meeting as very young children attending the same church, their love blossomed into a marriage of 65 years. Marrying in Bledsoe County, they soon made their home in Loudon where they raised their family. Jo Ann was a faithful member of the Loudon Church of Christ.

     She spent a career in banking, seeing the bank through several acquisitions beginning with First National Bank, Hamilton National, First Heritage, BankFirst, and finally BB&T when she retired. Jo Ann was a Charter member of the GFWC Loudon Woman’s Club where she served for many years; and a member of Loudon County Farm Bureau Women. She assisted the members of the Loudon County Farm Bureau as a tax preparer during tax season.

     Jo Ann battled cancer twice during her life and was an advocate and avid fund raiser for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Her greatest love was being a 4-H family. Jo Ann organized many 4-H farm projects and hosted many of the projects on their farm. Her sons were very active in the sheep and livestock division as well as many other young people in the community. The Pope family volunteered and mentored many award-winning students. Jo Ann had a kind and gentle spirit and was a mother figure to many.

Jo Ann is preceded in death by her parents; sons, Jerome Pope and John Pope; brothers, William Reel, Claude Reel, John Carl “Rod” Reel, and Raymond Jack Reel.

     She is survived by the love of her life, James Andrew Pope; grandchildren, Andy Pope, Macy (Luke) Starkes, Morgan Pope, and Johnna (Deven) Duda; sisters-in-law, Melba Reel Hargis and Dottie Reel; several nieces, nephews, and many close and special friends.

     Services to honor and remember Jo Ann will be held 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 12 in the McGill Click Chapel with Mr. Nick Angel and Mr. Jim Thomason officiating. Interment will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the Loudon County Memorial Gardens. Contributions in memory of Jo Ann may be made to the Tennessee 4-H Foundation, 100 River Road, #112, Loudon, Tennessee 37774 to benefit the Jerome Pope scholarship.  The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. Friday prior to the service at McGill Click Funerals & Cremations, 1366 Highway 72 N, Loudon, Tennessee 37774

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