Jo Ann Warren Mentzer, 75, of Windham, NH, entered the Church Triumphant on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 after a lengthy battle with pulmonary fibrosis. She was born Sept. 3, 1939 in Newton Grove, NC to Earl and Blonnie (Johnson) Warren. Jo Ann attended area schools, often traveling with her mother when her teaching assignments took her outside the Newton Grove area. She was the first graduate of the brand new Hobbton High School in 1957 and then attended the Watts Hospital School of Nursing, graduating with a Diploma in Nursing in 1960. While embarking on a successful career as a registered nurse, she also began a family, marrying William E. Allen, Sr. in 1961. After Bill’s death in 1979, Jo Ann was fortunate to fall in love a second time, marrying Jim Mentzer in 1981. For 43 years, Jo Ann faithfully cared for others as a registered nurse. The majority of her nursing career was spent working with Drs. William V. Singletary, Sr. and Eugene Linfors of Durham Internal Medicine in Durham, NC. Later in her career, she transitioned into skilled care nursing and served as Director of Nursing at both St. Joseph of the Pines in Southern Pines, NC and The Inn at Quail Haven in Pinehurst, NC. Jo Ann had three loves: her family, her church, and nursing. She loved caring for others, in whatever form that care might take, and would often put the interests and needs of others before her own. She was an active and engaged member of numerous churches over the years, especially after her husband became a United Methodist minister. Later in life, Jo Ann and Jim enjoyed traveling abroad and stateside including an amazing cruise up the Alaska coast on the week of 9-11. After retiring, Jo Ann discovered the joys of being a grandmother and reading on her Kindle every spare minute of the day. Above all, she cherished the time she spent with family and friends. Jo Ann was deeply loved by many; she will be sorely missed.
Besides her loving husband, the Rev. James Mentzer, her family includes her adoring children: William E. Allen, Jr. and his wife Julie Ann Booth of Portland, OR; Molly Allen Grady and her husband James Grady of Raleigh, NC; and David W. Allen of Denver, CO. She leaves her precious grandson, Warren C. Grady, and her sister & best friend, Jane Warren Jernigan. She was predeceased by her mother and father; an older sister, Sue Wilson Warren; her first husband, William E. Allen, Sr.; and her beloved grandson, Karl Thomas (Bo) Booth.
The family would like to thank the medical and nursing staff at Parkland Medical Center of Derry, NH for the special care provided Jo Ann during the last days of her journey here on Earth.
A Time of Visitation was held on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Knightdale United Methodist Church, 7071 Forestville Road, Knightdale, NC. The next morning, Jan. 16, there was a memorial service at this same location beginning at 11 am with the Rev. Bryan Siefert officiating. Later that day, there was a graveside service at Hillcrest Cemetery, Hobbton Highway/Route 701, in Newton Grove, NC beginning at 3 pm. The following week, there will be a service celebrating the life of Jo Ann on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 at Londonderry United Methodist Church, 258 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, NH 03053 beginning at 11 am with the Rev. Lynne Campbell officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family would invite donations in Jo Ann’s memory to the Watts School of Nursing, 2828 Croasdaile Drive (Suite 200), Durham, NC 27705, to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund at Londonderry United Methodist Church, or memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.