JoAnn Smith Dill of Tifton passed on May 4, 2024, at the age of 86 at her residence. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with the Rev. John Hughes officiating. Mrs. Dill will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery in a private family service. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service.
JoAnn was born in Tifton, Georgia on January 19, 1938. She was always proud to tell everyone she was from Tifton, Georgia. JoAnn did things her way to the end. Her feistiness helped her control lifelong Type 1 diabetes.
JoAnn is a Tift County High School graduate, class of 1956. She attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Georgia State College for Women. Upon returning to Tifton after college, she met Roger C. Dill while working at a gift shop in downtown Tifton. They were married for 66 years. She supported Roger’s career efforts every step of the way. Additionally, her career consisted of working at The Farmers Bank, Tifton, Georgia and being a bookkeeper for Short and Paulk Building Supply. She also was office manager for the Tifton Office of Scruggs Construction Company and Reeves Construction Company. She was a member of Tifton’s First Baptist Church.
JoAnn enjoyed gardening and golf. Additionally, she enjoyed bird-watching from her back porch with a glass of wine. JoAnn still enjoyed meeting friends for coffee at JoJo’s Family Restaurant. Her twin grandsons were the loves of her life and she enjoyed spending time with them. While not a football fan, she attended Grayson High School football games when her grandsons were playing.
JoAnn was the daughter of the late Joseph Mono Smith and Lawson Smith Mallory. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Joseph Mono Smith, Jr. “Buddy” and Dan Lamar Smith. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Roger C. Dill; one daughter and son-in-law, Tracy Whitesides and Lee of Tifton; two grandsons, Ches Whitesides of Atlanta, Georgia and Clay Whitesides (Lakin) of Jefferson, Georgia; one great granddaughter, Bryn Whitesides; and two sisters-in-law, Nita Dill and Rose Smith.
The family wishes to express heartfelt thanks for the outstanding care provided by Faye Hall, Janice Pearson, Denise Webb, Denise Tisby, and Orlean Bass. The family also wishes to express many thanks to Hospice of Tift Area for their care of Mrs. Dill.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Peanut Butter and Jesus, 91 Springhill Church Road, Tifton, GA 31793; or Hospice of Tift Area, 618 Central Avenue North, Tifton, GA, 31794.