Jo Sitton Marshall Roper

It is with profound sadness and loss, the family announces the passing on September 2, 2025, of our beloved Jo Sitton Marshall Roper- wife, mother, and grandmother, better known by her four grandchildren as "JoJo the Great".  Born on March 21, 1950, in Lancaster, South Carolina, Jo was the second daughter to Margaret Ann Sitton Marshall of Easley and Harold Hatton Marshall of Rock Hill.  She was named for her maternal grandfather, Joseph John Sitton, and her sister Clara, for their paternal grandmother, Clara Hatton Marshall.  The sisters experienced wholesome childhoods in Lancaster, and although they were two and one-half years apart in age, they remained "roomies" until Clara left home for college.  Following Clara's departure and Jo's high school graduation, Jo and Clara reunited at Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina.  The bond that Clara and Jo developed as children had never weakened, nor would it for the entirety of Jo's life.

Jo completed her undergraduate degree in three years, following which she and John Roper of Easley married on July 17, 1971.  Jo then entered the workforce as a schoolteacher, a teaching career which spanned more than four decades.  Following their graduate school graduations, Jo and John experienced progressive work opportunities, which moved the family to several new geographic locations. In 1974, Jo and John became parents to their first child, John Tyler, and 1977 their second child, Kelley Jo, who are now themselves parents to two wonderful children each. 

Jo had an abiding love she shared with her very best friend and guardian older sister Clara and Clara's husband Wayne Rogers. Jo loved John's family, especially his siblings, Jim and his wife Gail, Charles and Sarah Jane, and Sarah Jane's husband Benny Owens. Jo cherished all her nieces and nephews and their respective children.  She loved life, which was filled with many adventures of family, friends, administrators, co-teachers, students, and their families. Most importantly, there were no limits to the love she and John shared with the Lord, their children, grandchildren, and families with and with one another during their 54 years of marriage.

Jo's family members are eternally grateful for the outpouring of love from near and afar. These past days would have been unbearable without the love and support of family, friends, respective churches' staff and congregants, funeral home staff, and God's love, strength, and comfort. 

There will be an inurnment of ashes at West View Cemetery N. Main Street (205 N. 2nd Street @ 100 Wilbur Street) Easley, S. C. 29640 on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.   Pease note: parking is available in front of nearby Law Enforcement Center and City Hall.  ***PLEASE, no parking inside the Cemetery (Wilbur Street).   The family requests that everyone dress in casual attire.

In lieu of flowers, family is requesting donations be made to Shriner's Hospital in Greenville, SC and St. John's Episcopal Cathedral.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.mynattfh.com