Ms. Jo Ann Hannah was born Jo Ann Striplin on August 23, 1947 to Joseph and Julia Striplin in Hobson City, Alabama. Jo Ann grew up in Hobson City, attending Calhoun County Training School from which she graduated n 1965. Jo Ann went on to attend Alabama State University for two years. After that time, she was employed at Calhoun County Training School as a Paraprofessional, teaching and working with disabled children of various conditions, including Down's Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. She also drove the bus to pick up the children to deliver them to the school. She later worked for the Alexandria School System.

In 1968, Jo Ann wed Willie Floyd Hannah from Oklahoma city,, Oklahoma. They were married for five years. From that union, she and Willie had three children, Shervelle, Shelton and Shiwana.

Jo Ann was very active in her church, Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church. She served on the Missionary Society, Usher Board and was also in the choir. She served as the choir secretary. She was the president of the General Missionary Society for more than twenty years and upon stepping down from the presidency, she served as the secretary. She also taught the Women's Sunday School class.

In 1984, Jo Ann founded the gospel singing group, The Gospel Truettes. The Gospel Truettes sang together for more than thirty years, garnering praise and support from all over the southeast.

On Monday, July 10, 2023, God looked around His garden and saw an empty space. He then looked down on earth and saw Jo Ann's lovely face.

Jo Ann is survived by: three children, Shervelle Bergholz of Honolulu, Hawaii, Shelton Hannah of Hobson City, Alabama, and Shiwana Jordan of Atlanta, Georgia; her stepchildren, David Hannah of Kansas City, Missouri and Sherrece Hannah Bacy of Oklahoma City, Okalahoma; her brother, Frederick Striplin and his wife, Karen Burgin Striplin of Hobson City, Alabama; her sister, Louise Pyles of Cleveland, Ohio; thirteen grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren to carry on her legacy. In addition, she left many cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.