JO KAREN WILLIAMS

August 15, 2022

Jo Karen Williams, 78, of Coeburn, VA passed away Saturday, August 13, 2022, at University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN, after a brief illness. She was born April 10, 1944, to the late, William H. and Ethel Kobeck in Lawrenceburg, TN.

Jo’s family later moved to Sheffield, AL, where she graduated from Sheffield High School in 1962. She completed a program of study at Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College in 1972, majoring in drafting and design. Jo and her two daughters moved to southwest VA in 1978, where she was employed at Westmoreland Coal Company until its closing in 1990. She was an accomplished artist and writer. She was a lover of animals and served as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for many years, where she had nursed numerous injured or abandon possums, deer, raccoon, squirrels, and birds to health during those years, with the majority being released back into the wild.

Jo’s greatest love was her family and the Lord. She attended Friendship Baptist Church in Coeburn, VA. Jo would be a blessing with her singing in many church services over the years. She passed on her creative talents to her children and grandchildren, spending many hours painting, woodworking, crafting, scrapbooking, and sewing with them. She also enjoyed attending ballgames and events with her grandchildren.

Along with her parents, Jo was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Kenneth Godsey.

Jo is survived by her daughters, Pam Robinson and husband, Les of St. Paul, VA, and Anita Bosaw and husband, Bill of Columbus, OH; six grandchildren, Becky Osborne and husband, John of Lebanon, VA, Autumn Wright of Chesapeake, VA, Colton Bosaw and Makayli Bosaw both of Columbus, OH, William Robinson and Anna Jo Robinson both of St. Paul, VA; her beloved sister, Brenda Godsey of Florence, AL; nieces, Selina Riley and Felicia Plunket both of Florence, AL; great-grandchildren, Eli and Samuel Osborne both of Lebanon, VA; as well as a host of extended family and friends.

Visitation for Jo will be Friday, August 19, 2022, from 5:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. at Estes Funeral Home in Coeburn, VA. A memorial service will follow at 7:00p.m. with Pastor Jason Greene officiating and special singing by Ms. Stormie Odum. Jo’s ashes will be returned to Lawrenceburg, TN for a family service at a later date.

An online guest register is available for the Williams family at www.estesfuneralhome.com.

Estes Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Jo Karen Williams.