JoAnn Hewitt

JoAnn Hewitt, age 89, of Forest City, died Monday, February 10, 2025, at the Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, South Carolina. 

JoAnn was born on Wednesday, August 14, 1935, in Rutherford County to the late Brud Rollins and Vesta Henderson Rollins. She was a graduate of Tri-High School, class of 1953, and later earned two master’s degrees from Gardner Webb University. JoAnn spent her life as a teacher, investing her life in the students of Rutherford County Public Schools, Trinity Christian School where she taught kindergarten through third grade, Isothermal Community College’s GED program, and even taught school for the Department of Defense in Germany, South Korea, and Panama, during her notable career. She was a lifelong and faithful member of Caroleen Baptist Church where she was active in the Music Ministry and enjoyed organizing and going on the Senior bus tours. Through her kindheartedness, she would often pay the trip costs for those who could not afford it. Everyone who knew her referred to her as “Jo Go” because of her limitless energy and vitality. Her life’s passion can be summarized with three words, God, Family and Music.

Left to celebrate her life are her son, Jim Hewitt (Sharon), of Piedmont, SC; daughter, Debbie Cudd (Mike), of Prosperity, SC; brother, Ted Rollins (Patsy), of Forest City; sister, Gail Trunk, of Newbern, NC; grandchildren, Hailey Barlowe (Edward), Megan Johnson (Jeremiah), Kelley King, Houston King (Sara), Matt Cudd (Alyssa) and Hannah Starling (Matt); great-grandchildren, Jordan Pack (Jordan), Karsyn King, Maddison Hewitt, Olivia Gleeson, Barrett Johnson, Maci Starling, Finley Starling, Lily Dimsdale, Lucas Dimsdale, Reilly Berger, Aiden Berger and many nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her children’s father, Buddie J. Hewitt; and her siblings, Jack Rollins, Don Rollins, Bill Rollins, Margaret Babnew, Wanda Conner, and Brenda Latham. 

The funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, February 14th at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Ernie Cole officiating. Interment will follow in the Providence Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour prior to service time. 

In addition to flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.