JoAnne McIlwain, age 83 of Mobile, went to be with her Lord on March 13, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents, Al and Lura Finch, Sr., and brothers John and David Finch. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Francis Lee McIlwain, Sr.; 4 children, Francis (Tracy) McIlwain, Jr. of O'Fallon, IL, Dawn Evans of Mobile, Rusty (Barbara) McIlwain of Pensacola, FL, and Frank (Sonya) McIlwain of Billings, Montana; brothers, Al (Frances) and Ronald (Peggy) Finch, and sister, Peggy Sue (Jim) Reed; 11 grandchildren and 3 great- grandchildren.
JoAnne was born in Laurel, Mississippi on November 13, 1937, and lived in various locations in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida while her father worked in the construction industry. She often shared her experience of attending 4 different high schools in 4 years. An exceptional and diligent student, she graduated from Murphy High School and completed two years of study in accounting at the University of Alabama extension campus in Mobile. She began a successful career in accounting and bookkeeping before putting it on hold to raise a family, sacrificing further advancement. Like many from her generation, she returned to work to provide additional support for her family while maintaining the traditional family environment at home.
Her legacy to her family is a love for Jesus Christ which she demonstrated through word and deed. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 20, at 2:00 PM, at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12:00-2:00 PM at the funeral home.
1937-2021
A chapel service will be held at on 2pm on Saturday, 03/20/21 at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home followed by a commital service at the grave site.
