Mrs. Edythe "Joanne" Mumford

Mrs. Edythe “Joanne” Mumford, of Riverview, Florida, passed away on Friday, September 12, 2025. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Zion AME Church of Riverview, 5920 Robert Tolle Drive, Riverview, FL 33578, with Reverend James Crews, Officiating.

Affectionately known as “Mama Jo,” our beloved Joanne was born on October 20, 1934, in Columbus, Ohio, to Sarah Louise (Atwell) Davenport and Edwin “Mike” Davenport.

Joanne graduated from Springfield High School in Springfield, Ohio, and later attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She dedicated much of her professional life to public service, holding positions with Governor George Romney in Lansing, Michigan, as well as with school boards in Lansing, Michigan, and Bloomfield, Connecticut. She later served with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Tampa, Florida.

Joanne never met a stranger. Known for her warm smile, generous heart, and kind spirit, she was always ready to share a piece of candy—be it Jolly Ranchers, Tootsie Rolls, or mints—and offer words of wisdom to friends, family, or anyone her heart was moved to help.

A devoted woman of faith, she deeply loved her Mt. Zion AME Riverview church family and served the Lord faithfully, even in her final days. While we mourn her passing, she would remind us, “To everything there is a season...” Her season was indeed richly blessed—filled with love, laughter, service, and the abiding presence of the Lord

She was preceded in death by: her husband, Arthur Wayne Mumford; former husband, Harris J. Jackson; bonus daughter, Carol Mumford and grandsons, Leroy Jr. and Arron.

She is survived by her beloved children:  Reverend Karen Jackson Sims and husband Leroy, Lucretia Jackson Weiss and husband Karl, Natalie Mumford, and Michael Mumford.  Although an only child, MaMa Jo was blessed with a multitude of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren.  She leaves her precious memories with her grandchildren: Keith Sims, Jakob Karl Weiss, David Santiago Weiss, Bridget Sims, Tommy and Cindy Sims, Glenda Fort, Royian Sloan, Johndale Gould, Joshua Gould, India Gould-Jones and Lamarr Jones, Chawanna Foreman; 26 great-grandchildren; 21 great- great -grandchildren; 3 great -great- great -grandchildren; niece Gayle Terry; nephews, Eddie, Mark and Ronnie Mumford, Benjamin and wife Nona Brown and daughter, Ashley; a host of great nieces, nephews and other family members; bonus children, Sheryl Lynn Ellington and Karen and Rodney Anderson and her dearest bonus family members for 72+ years, Yvonne (David) Duncan and children, Ruth Duncan Bell, Jerry Bell and David Duncan and Reverend James and Laura Crews and children, Reverend Patrick and James Duane Crews.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Adonai’s Second Chances youth program, Project I Can.  $AdonaisSC or donations may be sent in care of Mt. Zion.  

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Zion AME Church of Riverview, 5920 Robert Tolle Drive, Riverview, FL 33578.

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.

www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com

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