Jo Ann Nellie Frank
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Jo Ann Frank was born in New Bern, North Carolina June 22, 1930. She graduated from Henderson High School, Henderson, NC, and Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
She started her career in retail as an assistant buyer for Thalheimers in Richmond, VA. After a few years, she was hired by an Advertising Agency in Richmond in the Media Research and General Information Department. Before returning to New Bern, she worked for WFNC in Roanoke Rapids. In 1963 after a background in Retail, Advertising, and Radio, she returned to New Bern. Jo Ann was a pioneer in television broadcasting and one of a few women broadcasters in Eastern North Carolina as an on-air personality with WNBE-TV (now WCTI) where she held the position of Women's Director. Upon leaving the television station she took a position with the local Belk Store. While at Belk she won numerous television and fashion awards from Belk Stores Service in Charlotte, NC. In 1992 having spent 23 years as Sales Promotion and Advertising Manager, she retired. Six months later she became the Blood Services Director for the local chapter of the American Red Cross, where she worked for 13 years.
In earlier years she was always interested in helping young women apply for educational scholarships for local beauty pageants sponsored by the North Carolina Jaycees. She emceed and judged numerous Beauty Pageants in North Carolina and Virginia. During this time, she coached many young women for pageants and was successful in having a Miss North Carolina Blueberry Queen, a Miss North Carolina, and a Miss Virginia.
During her years as a TV personality, she was a member of North Carolina Women in Radio and Television and was selected for inclusion in Foremost Women in Radio and Television. In the 1980's she was one of 5 finalists in the North Carolina Retailer of the year sponsored by the NC Association of Broadcasters, Inc.
Jo Ann was a member of the New Bern Women's Club, New Bern Historical Society, Tryon Palace Foundation, RiverTowne Players, Friend of Craven County Regional Library, Craven County Chapter of Eastern Star, New Bern Firemen's Museum, and an Honorary Jaycee. She also served as a board member for the New Bern Historical Society, United Way, and American Red Cross. She was a Community member on the Investigational Products Procedures Enforcement Committee of CarolinaEast and a member of Christ Episcopal Church.
Jo Ann traveled extensively in the United States, Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, and Nova Scotia.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Nathan and Margaret Frank of Henderson, NC, her brother, Dr. Claye Frank, sister-in-law, Virginia Frank of Johnson City, TN, and niece-in-law, Patti Frank, of Greenville, NC.
She is survived by her nephews; Claye Frank, Jr. of Greenville, NC, Chris Frank and wife, April, of Glen Allen, VA. Her great-nieces; Maggie Forman and husband, Matthew, of New Bern, Meredith Gander and husband, Michael, of Greenville and Emily Leisy Frank of Richmond, VA; great-grandnephew, Hunter Leisy, and great-grandniece, Eloise Leisy, of Richmond, Virginia; great-grandniece, Whitley Forman, and great-grandnephew, Charlie Forman, of New Bern; great-grandnephews, Mason Gander and Hundley Gander, of Greenville, NC.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Christ Episcopal Church followed by inurnment in the churchyard, and a reception at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her honor to Christ Episcopal Church or First Baptist Church: Mary Martha Sunday School Class, PO Box 1463, New Bern, NC 28563. Arrangements entrusted to Cotten Funeral Home.