JoAnn Clark Gilmore, 93 years old of Memphis, TN died at Regional One Hospital on Sept. 8, 2026, on her 75th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her only child, Mary Elizabeth (Meg) Gilmore McCord (Mike), 2 granddaughters, Megan McCord Whittier (Sam) with 4 great grandchildren and Chelsea McCord Harbaugh (Matt) with 3 great grandchildren – both of Franklin, TN. A sister-in-law, Joyce Gilmore Gray of Guys, TN. Two nieces, Alonda Henderson Sweat (Charlie) and Alecia Henderson Mathis (Dewayne) both of Lexington, TN and a nephew, Gary Lee Gilmore (Kim) of McKenzie, TN. Other relatives include Grafton Dodd, Bradly Dodd, Gerald Wayne Flowers Jr., Gerrianne Flowers Newman (Blake), Molly Flowers. Cousins in Bruceton, Phyllis A. Parks Taylor (Robert), Clark Smothers.  She was proceeded in death by her parents Vonnie and Cordie Sikes Clark, her husband, James E. Gilmore and her sister, Vonelle Clark Berryhill, husband William Berryhill and their daughter Sandra J. Dodd, also James Opal Gray, late husband of Joyce Gray.

JoAnn was born in Buena Vista, TN August 2, 1933. She moved to South Memphis with her parents in 1940. As a teenager, she worked at the famous A. Schwab variety store on Beale St. where she learned the basics of counting money and good business practices. It was on Beale Street where she met the love of her life, James Gilmore. James worked at Thom McAn shoe store directly across the street. Both she and James became friends with the Lansky family, BB King and others on Beale. JoAnn graduated from Southside High School in May of 1951. James volunteered for 4 years with the Air Force and began writing JoAnn every week. He proposed to her in a letter and mailed the ring, a story she loved to tell.  JoAnn turned 18 on August 2nd and James as 21 on September 2nd. They married that same year at the courthouse in Memphis on September 8th, 1951.  The Airforce soon relocated them to Colorado Springs, CO and then to Reno, NV. It was there she began her banking career.

In 1953 they returned to Memphis and bought their first home on Carrington St off Park Avenue. In 1960 they moved to a new area in Memphis called Whitehaven. The following year, after 10 years of marriage, they welcomed their baby girl on November 17th. JoAnn continued her banking career with Union Planters and then National Bank of Commerce. She taught teller school and wrote the first teller manuals for both banks. JoAnn was also an officer of the NBC and Vice-president of cost accounting at one Commerce Square. In the 1970's she was named Businesswoman of the Year.  In 1980 when James retired from MLG&W they moved to Ramer, TN where they opened Special Events, a bridal registry and gifts store in Selmer, TN. They soon added Merle Norman Cosmetics. The store remained open for 41 years. In October 2021, after being widowed since 2005 she moved back to Memphis to be near her daughter and son-in-law. Her stories, cooking during holidays and her funny personality will be missed.

JoAnn was a member of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Corinth, MS. She was a former member of Christ Church Episcopal in Memphis. She also was a member of the Music Club of Selmer and an involved member of The Republican Party.

Services will be held at the West TN Veterans Cemetery at 10:00am Thursday Sept. 17 in the Rotunda. She will be buried with James. The family requests in lieu of flowers, that memorials be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude.