Jo Ann Barrett Baker

Jo Ann Barrett Baker, 84, of Springville, Alabama passed away quietly in her sleep on July 13, 2025, in Birmingham, Alabama. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Funeral Services will be held following visitation at 11:00 at the funeral home with her friend, Brother Ron Mensinger officiating. Burial will be held at 12:00 at Hullett’s Chapel Cemetery in Springville, Alabama. Arrangements are made by Deerfoot Memorial Funeral Home. Jo Ann was born in Steubenville, Ohio on July 8, 1941, to Louis Leo Barrett and Margaret Louise Clifton Barrett. She was married to Gerald Ash, and they had four children. Later she married Gary Donley and after his death, she was married to Ray Baker. Jo Ann attended Bessemer State Nursing School in 1975 and graduated in 1977. She began her career in Labor and Delivery at Brookwood Hospital then later opened a day care so she could care for and love her grandchildren and many other fortunate little ones. She then went back to nursing and devoted her skills to Geriatric care. Later she drove a school bus for special needs children at Springville School. During this time Jo Ann and her husband Ray also opened Barret Valley BBQ in Springville. Jo Ann is preceded in death by her Grandparents, Gertrude and Tom Thornton, her parents, Louis and Margaret Barrett, sister, Lee Baswell, brother, Tommy Barrett, brother, Eddie Barrett and brother, Spence Barrett. Jo Ann is survived by her children Joanie and Bruce Mardis, Gerry and Natalee Ash, Mickey and Carla Ash, Kathy Richards, and stepson Philip Donley. Also, her brothers Lou and Sonja Barrett, JB and Beverly Barrett and Daniel and Rebecca Barrett and her sister Betty and Jerry Phillips. She has ten grandchildren, Jeanie and Todd Sprayberry, Michael Mardis and Elizabeth, Katie (Liz) and Adam Donaldson, Patrick and Laurel Hare, Graham Ash, River Ash, Christina Jones, Christopher and Amanda Ferguson, Kimberly and Andrew Pierce, Carly and Quran Wilson. She also has 14 great grandchildren and many nieces, and nephews. The Pallbearers will be Michael Mardis, Christopher Ferguson, Patrick Ash, Andrew Pierce, Quran Wilson, Todd Sprayberry, Adam Donaldson, and Clay Jones. The family of Jo Ann Baker would like to extend our thanks to Greenbrier at the Altamont, Compassus Hospice and all our family and friends for their unwavering support throughout this time.

Jo Ann Barrett Baker

July 8, 1941 - July 13, 2025