Jo Ann James, 70, died at 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 atKing’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven. She was a native ofKentwood, La. and a resident of Brookhaven.

Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home in Kentwood from 11 a.m.until religious services at 2 p.m. Friday.

Services will be conducted by the Rev. Ben Wayne Blackwell.Interment will follow in the Woodland Cemetery in Kentwood.

She is survived by her four daughters, Lisa Francis, of BatonRouge, La., Leigh Ann Wrather, of Smyrna, Tenn., Joni Spears, ofMcComb, and Shy Ann James, of Brookhaven; her two sons, JosephFrancis, of Pickens, and John Mark Spears, of Osyka; and her 10grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruby Lee McDanielBlackwell; her father, Benjamin Blackwell; her two brothers, ArlanRay Blackwell and Carl Blackwell.

For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.