Jo Ann Hensley of Columbia, SC, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 25, 2024. She was 89 years old. Jo Ann was born in the Olympia neighborhood of Columbia on June 30, 1935.

She was married to James Hensley for 57 years and traveled for many years in the U.S. as the wife of a Marine. Her life was dedicated to her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and she shared her love for Christ with them. She was active in her church and was a member of Temple Baptist Church for 54 years where she taught Sunday School in the Hope class, sang in the choir, helped with VBS and was on the Missions Board.

Her love for music was evident in wherever her husband was stationed, she always joined the church choir and the community choral society as a soprano and each year participated in "Handel's Messiah" and had the opportunity to be in the chorus for the opera, "La Boheme".

After raising her three children, she went back to school to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina. She taught 3rd grade at Shaw Heights in Sumter for 12 years.

She is survived by daughter, Brenda Hensley Williams (Paul), daughter, Delores Hensley Collier (Gary), son, Michael Hensley and was known to her 8 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren as "Minnie".

Her funeral will be Saturday, August 31 at Temple Baptist Church at noon, 806 Universal Drive, Columbia, SC, with visitation beginning at 11:00. She will be buried at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Temple Baptist Church or SamaritansPurse.org.