~✾~Her children (and grandchildren) shall rise up and call her blessed~✾~ Proverbs 31:28

Delivered into this world by her paternal grandmother ~ Ann Catherine Petty Williams Pogue ~ Joanna was the 9th of 10 children born to Joseph Aden and Eliza Jane (Baze) Williams in the small rural community of Pettytown (named in honor of the family's Petty heritage) near Red Rock, Texas. She was not given a middle name.

Joanna attended the College of Industrial Arts (now known as Texas Woman's University) in Denton and received a teaching certificate. Beginning the Fall of 1915, she taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Pettytown for one school year before marrying Jesse Ernest James on November 4, 1916 in Big Spring, Texas. She was a housewife, a stay-at-home mom for her children ~ Amy Virginia and Perry Ledford, and the grandmother of six. At the time of her death, Joanna and Jesse had been married 63-1/2 years.

In April of 1915, Joanna was baptized in the Sabinal River for the remission of her sins. She lived a faithful Christian life.

We ~ her grandchildren ~ have many loving memories of her playing dominoes with us; making silver dollar pancakes and the best banana pudding. Joanna loved to sing and listen to Southern Gospel Music. Even long after her memory had faded away, if you were sitting close by, you'd occasionally hear her alto voice faintly singing beautiful hymns during church services. Joanna also enjoyed reading the Bible and solving crossword puzzles ~ the more difficult, the better. She loved to sew and quilt ~ having hosted many quilting bees in her home.

Joanna's favorite subject in school was History ~ U.S. and Texas. By memory, she was able to list all 254 counties in the Lone Star State, in addition to naming each one's county seat. She is one of many who was and still are instrumental in preserving the heritage of the families that called Pettytown "home".

In the evening of Friday, May 30th, 1980, Joanna received an angelic escort to her Heavenly mansion. There, she was enfolded in the Arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

~✾~ Heavenly Peace ~✾~