Jo Ann (Burnett) Worrell

Jo Ann Burnett Worrell, 84, of Fishersville, Virginia passed away peacefully on April 30, 2020 at her home.

            She was born the youngest of two children in Augusta County, Virginia on March 29, 1936. Daughter of the late Melton Raymond “Buck” and Hannah Pearle (Fretwell) Burnett.  Jo Ann was a graduate of Waynesboro High School and pursued higher education at The College of William and Mary.  She graduated from Waynesboro Hospital’s nursing program and later from Blue Ridge Community College with an Associates Degree in Nursing.  Jo Ann was a loving and caring nurse at Waynesboro Hospital and then Augusta Medical Center for 27 years. 

            Jo Ann was a caregiver by nature and was always willing to help anyone in need.  She loved to laugh and tell stories and had a quick wit.  She enjoyed being on the go and taking vacations with her family- a trait she passed on to her children and grandchildren. In her later years, Jo Ann lived with her son, Mark and his wife Larra, who she thought of as a daughter.  There, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and eventual great grandchildren who lovingly called her Grandma Jo.  She was always full of advice and wisdom for her grandchildren, who she spent a lot of her time joking around with.  Jo Ann had a lifelong love of learning and passed this love on to her son and grandchildren.  Higher education was very important to her and she was proud of her daughter-in-law and three granddaughters for pursuing a degree in nursing. Jo Ann loved to cross-stitch and was an avid reader.  Jo Ann loved sports and was on the girls basketball team at Waynesboro High School.  She enjoyed watching her son and grandchildren play ball.  She was a lifelong fan of the New England Patriots, and University of Virginia Cavaliers, however, her greatest sports love was for the New York Yankees, partly because she enjoyed the rivalry with her son, Mark, who is a life-long Boston Red Sox fan.

            She was preceded in death by her parents- Melton Raymond Burnett (1968) and Hannah Pearle Burnett (2000), Daughter- Laura Susan Koiner (2003), Brother- Roger Lavern Burnett (2015), Sister-in-law- Mary Ann Long Burnett (2016) and husband- Elmer Garland Worrell (1983).   

            She is survived by her sons- Charles Michael “Mike” Koiner (Pam) of Canada and Mark Louis Koiner (Larra) of Fishersville, Virginia; granddaughters- Lindsey Marie Wallace (Eddie), Kasie Diana Houff (Jordan), Ashlie Ann Koiner; grandsons- William Raymond Koiner (Debra),  Justin Michael Koiner, Dylan Dale Johnson; and Great Grandchildren- Trey and Layla Wallace, Hudson and Emmett Houff, Charlie and Jack Koiner, Ryleigh and Bentley Johnson. Other Survivors include her nieces Tana Moore (Billy) and Kelly Shifflett (David), nephew David Burnett (Sherry), great nieces Lindsey Brown Fletcher (Brian) and Hannah Burnett Milgrim (Tyler) and great nephews Jason Burnett, Chris Burnett, Matthew Oliver (Aleshea) and Levi Brown (Kari) and numerous great great nieces and nephews. 

            Jo Ann’s absence from this Earth has left a hole in the hearts of all those who knew her.  Her laugh and smile will be missed, however, she left behind a great legacy that she was very proud of.  In the words of her favorite musician, Nat King Cole, “Unforgettable that’s what you are. Unforgettable tho’ near or far.”

            There will be a small private graveside service at Augusta Memorial Park with her great nephew, Levi Brown, officiating.  Pallbearers will be Eddie Wallace, Jordan Houff, David Burnett, Jason Burnett, Levi Brown, and Brian Fletcher.  In lieu of flowers the family asks for memorial contributions to be made to Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah.

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