JoAnn Parker, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and cherished friend, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2026, at Common Spirit Memorial North Georgia. Born in Dalton, Georgia, on November 8, 1945, JoAnn was, throughout her eighty years, the radiant heart of her family and a gentle light in her community.

JoAnn's life was beautifully entwined with her hometown of Dalton, where she was born and where she spent much of her life in the loving company of family and friends. With her devoted husband, Clifford "Buddy" Parker, Jr., JoAnn helped build both a bustling business and a warm, welcoming home. Together they owned Parker's Carpet, pouring their efforts and care into a venture that touched the lives of many in their community. Through hard work, faith, and partnership, they created a legacy that has endured beyond Clifford’s own passing, continuing as a memory of their shared dreams and determination.

JoAnn found her greatest joy in life’s simple, heartfelt pleasures. Whether she was tending to her garden, waiting for a bite on the quiet waters of the lake, or gathered around the table for a lively game of cards, she embraced every moment. An avid sports fan, she loved nothing more than cheering on her Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Braves.

Yet, JoAnn’s greatest passion, unmistakably, was her family. Her children were her life’s work and her deepest pride, and her grandchildren were her greatest joy. To them she was “Memom” - the proud, loving center of several generations - and there was nothing she would not do to make them smile. She was always up for an adventure, whether it was helping teach cartwheels in the yard, baking side by side in the kitchen, or dealing another round of Hand and Foot at the kitchen table. She loved holidays, and she made every one of them magic- Christmases that her grandchildren will remember all their lives, eggs dyed and hidden every Easter, and Halloweens she never once sat out, dressing up right alongside them. She met their every whim and was their biggest cheerleader, always on their side. She was the strongest person her family has ever known, and the heart around which all of them gathered. She poured her love into her children: Tamela Painter, Tonya Bruse, and the late Tara Swilley; her sons-in-law, Terry Painter, Allen Burse, and Scott Swilley; and her treasured grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Brooke Holcomb and her husband, Nathan; Brandon Bearden; Megan Williams; Mariah Harris; Nick Walker and his wife, Emily; and Jordyn Swilley; along with her great-grandchildren, Ronald Holcomb, Layton Bearden, Brennan Bearden, Haiden Williams, Sophie Williams, and Emerson Walker. Her nurturing spirit shaped each of their lives in ways both seen and unseen, her kindness and wisdom passed down in every shared meal, every gathering, every gentle embrace.

Her dearest sister, Julie Bradford, and her brother, Harbin Shelton, carry forward her memory with deep affection, along with her nephew, Marty Akins, son of her late sister Thelma, and his wife, Pam, and their children, Cody, Lauren, and Carrington, and their spouses and children; her niece, Trina Souther; Janet Swilley, mother of her son-in-law Scott, who came into her life through marriage and became her cherished best friend; Donna Mitchell and her family, aunt to her son-in-law Terry, who became a dear friend; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who were every bit as much her family. She also remained devoted to the family of her late husband, Buddy: his sisters, the late Mary Spaulding and Shirley Allmon, and his brother, Troy Parker, and his wife, June. She loved them dearly and stayed close to them through all the years after Buddy’s passing. JoAnn made no distinction between the family she was born into and the family she chose- she loved them all the same, and they loved her right back.

JoAnn is now reunited with many loved ones gone before her: her husband, Clifford "Buddy" Parker, Jr.; her daughter, Tara Swilley; her father, Tom Shelton, and mother, Vinna Lou Shelton; her siblings, Harold Shelton, Willis Shelton, Estle Shelton, Micki Jeter, T.L. Shelton, Thelma Akins, Dorothy Roland; her brothers- and sisters-in-law Wayne Braford, Ailene, Gladys, Ruby, and J.B.

Even in her final days, JoAnn remained a loving presence -a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend whose warmth and laughter could fill any room. Her children and grandchildren, who miss her dearly, find comfort in the countless memories of her devotion, her gentle humor, and the love she offered so freely.

To celebrate JoAnn's remarkable life, family and friends are invited to a visitation at Dalton Funeral Home, 620 S Glenwood Ave, Dalton, GA 30721, on August 9, 2026, from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held at the same location on August 10, 2026, at 2:00 P.M.

As we gather to remember JoAnn Parker, we honor not only the years she spent among us, but also the enduring love, compassion, and strength she gifted to everyone in her life. Hers was a life well-lived; a bloom of kindness that will linger in every garden she planted and in every heart she touched. She will be dearly missed, and forever in our hearts.

Visit the online obituary www.dalton-funeral-home.com to post tributes and share memories.

Arrangements have been entrusted to independently owned and operated Dalton Funeral Home, 620 S. Glenwood Avenue, Dalton, GA 30721.