Mrs. JoAnn Carrie Whitley Alexander, of Jonesboro, departed this life Friday night, January 26, 2018, at her home, at the age of 83.
She was born October 14, 1934, in Weiner, Arkansas, the daughter of the late Clyde Caplinger and Lora Mae Smith Caplinger.
JoAnn was self-employed and owned her own cleaning business. She was also an ordained minister and taught Sunday School at New Life Fellowship Church in Jonesboro for many years. She was an avid gardener and loved canning and baking. She was the matriarch of the family and enjoyed looking after and caring for all of them.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two husbands, Kenneth Theodore Whitley and James B. Alexander, one brother, Seldon Caplinger, and two sisters, Jeanette Caplinger and Geraldine Branyon.
She is survived by two sons, Mike Whitley (Lisa) of Harrisburg, and Ted Whitley (Lillie) of Jonesboro, two step-sons, Steve Alexander of Salem, AR and Phillip Alexander of Jonesboro, two brothers, Billy Caplinger and Jackie Caplinger, both of Harrisburg, three sisters, Joyce Anderson (Russ) of Cherokee Village, Gail Matthews of Boni Fay, FL, and Regina Pierce of Cherry Valley, two granddaughters, Jessica Whitley and Barbera Lee (Vincent), both of Jonesboro, and one great grandson, Kravyn Kenneth.
Funeral services are set for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Gregg-Weston Funeral Home Chapel in Harrisburg with Brother Rick Clark officiating. Interment will follow in Bolivar Cemetery at Harrisburg. Friends may visit at the funeral home Monday evening, 5:00-7:00 p.m.