Harriet Jo Ann Cleveland Carruth

Harriet Jo Ann Cleveland Carruth, of Amite County, passed away October 25, 2026 at The Woods Senior Care Center in Griffin, Georgia where she lived since October 2022.

Visitation will be Friday, October 30, at Hartman Jones Funeral Home from 12PM until services at 2PM. Dr. David Millican will officiate.

Mrs. Carruth was born on April 13, 1941, in Magnolia, to the late Clinton Floyd Cleveland and Lois Augustus Powell Cleveland. During high school and college she spent time in Chicago, IL working for Kemper Insurance Company while living with her aunt. She loved to recount her summers in Chicago. She graduated from Liberty High School in 1959 serving as the class secretary. She was adamant she would graduate college before getting married and always emphasized education to her children. Mrs. Carruth graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, in 1963. She married James "Jimmy" Carruth soon after on March 23, 1963. Residing in California after they married, they returned home to McComb to start their family.

Jo Ann taught business education at McComb High School for 38 years and was named teacher of the year. Mrs. Carruth a well regarded educator was remembered by her students as an impactful and influential teacher. She sponsored the Future Business Leaders of America club and encouraged her students relentlessly. She also taught adult education courses at Southwest Junior College.

Her faith was very important to her. She spent her formative years at East Fork Baptist Church and would return as an adult for Homecoming and dinners on the ground frequently. Jo Ann was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in McComb where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and coached Bible Drill groups. She was also an active member of the WMU. She and Jimmy later joined West McComb Baptist Church.

Mrs. Carruth was very active in her community. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma (a professional society for women educators) and Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition, she was a member and two time president of the Aspasia Club. She also served as an election commissioner for Amite County District 4 for several years.

She was an avid gardener and could spend many hours weeding and tending to her plants. Jimmy and she planted a fruitful garden for many years.

Jo Ann is survived by her children Jeffrey Carruth, Michael Carruth (Bridgett), and Callie Carruth-Harper (Mike); her 6 grandchildren Clayton Carruth, Benton Carruth, Hutson Harper, Johna Claire Carruth, Mia Carruth and Ella Harper; her sister Camille Carruth; her sisters-in-law Jackie Cleveland and Jo Ann Carruth Stollenwerck; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years Jimmy Carruth; her parents; her brother Floyd Clinton "Clint" Cleveland; her sister Janice Moore; her brother-in-law Leslie "Butch" Carruth and her brother-in-law Edward Bowen "Bo" Stollenwerck.