Jo Ann Oliphant, 67, of Carthage, TX, passed away on Wednesday afternoon, April 27, 2022, in Carthage. She was born on Jan. 31, 1955, in Houston, TX, to the late Roy David and Allie Sue Miller Oliphant. Jo Ann graduated from Spring Branch High School with the class of 1973, and attended Panola College where she earned an Associate's Degree in 1975. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University and then University of St. Thomas where she earned a Bachelor's of Art Degree in History in 1977. Jo Ann attended the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science in 1985. She worked as a librarian in Houston, Waco, Beeville, and Victoria where she retired. Jo Ann was honored by the Texas Library Association as the Librarian of the year in 2003. She moved back to Carthage in 2012, and she became very involved in the community and was a member of the Panola County Historical and Genealogical Society, the Service League, the Music Club, and Panola Squares Quilt Club. She was a member of Rehobeth United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her brother, David M. Oliphant and wife Kristi; nieces, Laura Elizabeth Ruch and husband Ryan and Amy Nicole Oliphant Lyon; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Raegan, Braxton, and Braydon Ruch and Rylie and Jordan Lyon.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 2, 2022, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Kennedy officiating. Interment will follow in Rehobeth Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers are Lynn Stanley, Jerry Hanszen, Manuel Rodriguez, Robert Smith, Denny Jernigan, and James Moon.

Memorials may be made to the Panola County Historical and Genealogical Society, 213 N. Shelby, Carthage, TX 75633, Rehobeth Cemetery Assn., P.O. Box 60, Carthage, TX 75633, or Rehobeth United Methodist Church, 2207 U.S. Hwy. 59 North, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com .