Jo Ann Royals McDuffie, 90, of Columbia, died Saturday May 10, 2025. Born April 21, 1935, she was the daughter of Joseph DeWitt Royals and Lera Harrelson.

Jo Ann was a special lady who loved and was loved by so many.  After graduating high school, Jo Ann moved to Columbia, stayed in a boarding house on Bull Street, worked and attended Business School.  During this time she met the man who would be her beloved husband for the next 67 years.  They wed November 24, 1954 and began building their lives together. While there are many memories of them together, we also have many memories of the lady we called Mom, Grandmama and Greatmama.  And at least one of us lovingly called her ToJo.

Jo Ann worked hard in everything she did and excelled in her work. She did office work for different types of businesses, was a Tupperware Unit Manager, owned a Vanda beauty business and spent 25 years as the Financial Secretary at St. Andrews Baptist Church, retiring in 1998. She was dependable, organized, consistent and always served with a smile.  

She was a lady, a Christian lady, who showed kindness, love and patience to those around her.  She loved her family and she especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Her face just lit up every time she saw them and she spoiled them as much as she could! She also loved her church family, often caring for others in need and always being there when there was a need. She was a member of the Mary and Martha Sunday School Class and faithfully attended and kept the roll. 

Jo Ann enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, gardening, doing puzzles, basketball, watching the Lady Gamecocks, playing games and learning new skills. She loved camping and square dancing and traveling. And she did all of these things as often as she could, making many lifelong friends in the process.  Jo Ann lived life to the fullest, took pride in everything she did and stayed true to her beliefs.  She will be missed by many.

Survivors include daughters Diana M. Harder and Lisa Jo Pierce (Billy); granddaughters Stefanie H. Hagan (Tyler) and Tammie L. Harder; grandsons Jonathan R. Harder (Amy), Joseph D. Harder, III (Rocio), Charlie A. McDuffie, IV (Angela), Levi Franklin Pierce and Cody Arthur Pierce; great-grandsons Charlie James “LC” McDuffie, Hudson Brooks Hagan and Archer Lee Hagan; great-granddaughters Adalynn Louise McDuffie and Millie Ann Harder. She is also survived by a sister, Mary R. Holmes (Lloyd).  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years Charlie Arthur McDuffie, Jr, her son Charlie A. “Chuck” McDuffie, III, her oldest brother Brooks Royals, her older twin brothers Laverne and Larue Royals, her twin brother Joe Dale Royals and her sister Martha McFarland (Mary’s twin).

Services for Jo Ann will be held Saturday, May 31, 2025 at St. Andrews Baptist Church, 230 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC.  Visitation starts at 1:00 pm, service starts at 2:00 pm and the burial will follow the service at Woodridge Memorial Park, 138 Corley Mill Road, Lexington, SC.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the following:

Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries, PO Box 1178 Greenwood, SC 29648-1178 (conniemaxwell.com);  St Andrews Baptist Church, 230 Bush River Road, Columbia SC 29210; Alzheimer’s Association , 140 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 640 Columbia SC 29210