JoAnn Dowless Meares, age 84, of Lumberton, NC, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 12, 2022, in Lumberton, NC. She was born on April 30, 1938, in Bladen County, NC to the late Annie Bell Thompson and the late Thomas Dowless.

JoAnn was a Godly woman in many ways, known for her prayer and attendance at church every Sunday. She found joy in sewing and reading her Bible. She was a loving mother known to bring people together in new ways. She made her way as a licensed cosmetologist. The supportive wife of a general contractor and farmer, she was a homemaker in every sense of the word.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Ertle Ray Meares; her two sisters, Annie Mae McLean and Shirley Meares; her son Matthew Meares; and her two grandsons, Zachary Ray Meares and Josh Meares.

She is survived by her children: Christina Meares of Lumberton, NC, Thomas Meares and his wife Cathy of Lumberton, NC, William Meares and his wife Teresa of Cameron, NC, John Meares and his wife Tonya of Lumberton, NC, and Kathy Shaw and her husband Mike of Sneads Ferry, NC; her two sisters, Hazel Neal and her husband Jerry of Lumberton, NC and Barbara Britt and her husband Wesley of Alabama; eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends and loved ones prior to the service on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, from 4:00-5:00 PM at Floyd Mortuary & Crematory, Inc., 809 E. 5th Street in Lumberton, NC. Following the visitation, a funeral service will be held at 5:00 PM with Rev. Jimmy Brewington officiating. Burial will follow at Kinlaw Family Cemetery in Lumberton, NC.