JoAnn Hopper
JoAnn Morris Hopper (more affectionately known as Memaw) of Hornbeak passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in her home surrounded by loved ones. Feb. 28, 1937, in a small community known as Push, JoAnn was born to the late Joseph Franklin Morris and Bobbie Ethelene Mills Morris.
One could say JoAnn’s life was a blank canvas that she ever so eloquently painted on throughout her life. As a child her family moved from Push to Campbell, Mo., where she attended school prior to moving back to Tennessee where she soon started a family of her own.
Jan. 29, 1955, Mrs. Hopper married the love of her life, the late Wade Hopper. Life had its ups and downs but it has been said, “love conquers all.” In her own words she wrote, “He can still make my knees weak and my toes tingle. As I’m writing this, I’m 65 and he’s 70. Surprised??”! They were married 68 years at the time of his passing. Together they raised two sons, Kenneth Hopper (Jill) of Hickman, Ky., and Jackie Hopper (Gina) of Hornbeak.
JoAnn worked in cotton fields, the school cafeteria and a sewing factory. She wasn’t a fan of the cotton fields and realistically who was back then. Her cooking skills were unmatched. There was always more than enough food when it came to family gatherings. Her fried chicken was a family favorite and there was always a cheesecake with cherries on top for Greg.
She loved to read and has almost as many books on hand as a small library. Her artistic skills were amazing and this trait was passed down to her sons. There are countless canvases with her artwork on them. Her sewing skills were amazing as well. She sewed in a factory, for herself, for the grands and so many others. When searching for the definition of a green thumb, her name could have easily been placed beside it. She could take a stick and grow a tree, a stem of a rose and grow huge rose bushes. Her love for flowers and her ability to make them flourish were second to none. Her favorite being yellow roses and Iris’. She loved Red Door perfume, autumn colors, Caramel pie, country cooking, playing softball and fishing!
With all the things she loved in life, God was at the top of her list and you never doubted it. She was first baptized in 1953 and then again on Sept. 30, 2010, by Brother Bobby Stewart. Her dedication to God and his word led to many of her family members attending church and dedicating their lives to God as well. She was a faithful servant indeed. Her favorite verse was John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. She was a member of Hornbeak Church of Christ until its recent closing and then moved to Lakeview Church of Christ down by Reelfoot Lake.
Her next love would have to be her family and all those grands. Greg and Bobie were her first two and she had the pleasure of keeping them when they were young and could tell you stories that would go on for days about the things they did together. Later she was blessed with three more grands that she loved dearly, Anthony, Bradley and Laura Ashley, then the great-grands were added one by one. She loved them all! She had a love for poetry and at one time she wrote every grand a poem about their life through her eyes. These poems would make you laugh and sometimes shed a happy tear. These poems are now priceless and will forever be cherished.
“Memaw was one of a kind. She will truly be missed but we are all blessed to have a part of her instilled in us all!”
In addition to her sons, she is survived by five grandchildren, Greg Hopper (Mandy) of Hornbeak, Bobie Phillips (Justin) of Rives, Anthony Owens (Stacy) of Bartlesville, Okla., Bradley Owens (Peggy Lee) of Newbern and Laura Ashley Chism (Brandon) of Hornbeak. She is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Grace James, Margie Alexander and Elsie Hutchcraft; and her brother, William Polk Morris.
Services for Mrs. Hopper will be Thursday, April 2, 2026, at White-Mahon Funeral Home in Troy, with Kevin Thomason officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery near Hornbeak.
Bradley Owens, Carson Collins, Jakob Hopper, Jackson Chism, Copeland Chism and Braydon Chism will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Greg Hopper, Anthony Owens, Grayson Owens, Jase Owens, Brandon Chism and Justin Phillips.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Lakeview Church of Christ or a charity of your choice.
The Messenger