Joanne Epting Whitt passed away Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the Longwood Community Living Center in Booneville at the age of 65. She was the daughter of John Ware and Jamie Roberts Epting of Guntown, MS. She was an active member of Arbor Grove Baptist Church in Houston, MS, until her health declined and she could no longer attend.
Joanne grew up on the family dairy farm where she learned the value of hard work and pulling together as a family. She excelled in her studies and graduated from Baldwyn High School as the valedictorian of the class of 1977. She continued her education at Mississippi State University, earning her bachelors and masters degrees in education. She taught math in the Houston School District for 30 years. She held her students to a high standard and encouraged them to do their best. Joanne was caring and compassionate, always willing to help in any way she could. When her twin brother needed a kidney transplant she gladly gave him one of hers. Although she had no children of her own, one of her greatest joys was helping to raise her grandson, Damian, whom she considered to be more like her own son. She will be greatly missed by all those who love her.
She is survived by her brother and caretaker, John Epting and his wife Mary Ann of Guntown, MS; uncle Ronald Roberts (Aileene) of Alpine, MS; aunt Ray Busch (Woody) of Charleston, SC; daughter Tiffani Evans (Dewayne); grandchildren Damian Cooper (Jade), Jordan, Brianna, and Makensie Evans and mother-in-law Martha Lancaster all of Starkville; sister-in-law Sherry Carter (William) of Kentucky; and several cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her twin brother, Jimmy “Bo” Epting; her husband, Mark Whitt; and grandparents Troy and Allene Roberts and Luther Percy and Connie Epting.
Services will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Waters Funeral Home with Bro. Jason Brassfield officiating. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday evening at Waters Funeral Home and Tuesday afternoon from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Arbor Grove Baptist Church, Houston, MS. Burial will be in the Arbor Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Damian Cooper, Jordan Evans, Bill Floyd, Tim Floyd, Roy Prather, Trent Roberts, and Jackson Whitt.
