Joanna White

Johanna ‘Aunt Jo’ White went home to be with the Lord on Monday, February 3, 2020, at age 85.   Johanna was born in Shaw, Mississippi in 1934.  At an early age, with her mother and eight siblings, she moved to Chicago, Illinois; and in the late 1960s she decided to make Lorain her permanent home of residence. 

Johanna faced life with grace, courage and dignity.  As a two-time cancer survivor, Johanna birthed no children of her own; however, she mothered many when she opened her home and heart to provide love, support and nurturing to those in need. 

Johanna was a fashionista before it was vogue.  She created her own clothing line, Designs by Johanna, and often enlisted help with modeling her fashion forward designs from her plethora of beautiful nieces. Her skills were often called upon to generate beautiful creations for weddings, church functions, senior proms and a multitude of other significant events.  Later in her career, Johanna became the ‘go-to’ seamstress within the community.  Until her death, she continued to create, mend and alter clothes, fabrics and apparel for anyone who would request her services.  In addition to her love for creating and sewing, Johanna was an avid bingo player.  She rarely missed her weekly bingo night.

Johanna was a loved and esteemed aunt survived by an abundance of nieces and nephews and a host of devoted friends.  Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her much adored niece Ruby Best and great-nephew John E. White.  She was preceded in death by all eight siblings, Elizabeth Shelton, Lester White Sr., Willie Hayes, Frank Sutton, Elchis White, Tommie White, Geneva McCoy and Leroy Taylor; and her beloved mother, Pearl Sutton (née White).

.Friends and Family will be received on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 from 10:00am until time of service at 11:00a.m., for a “Celebration of Life" at New Bethel PBC,3880 Dayton Ave, Lorain, 44052. Burial will be in the Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon.

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