Jo Anne Washington
March 4, 1945 – August 12, 2025
Jo Anne Washington was born in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina on March 4,1945. She was preceded by her parents, Walter Edgar Long, Sr., Mattie Amina Long of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and her natural father, Joseph Edward Lewis of Pensacola, Florida. Jo Anne peacefully departed this life on August 12, 2025.
Jo Anne was the eldest of seven children. Her siblings were the late Walter E. Long, Jr, Donald Long, Debra Calhoun and Harold (Marcel) Long. She is survived by Sandra Kube Long and Carolyn Sura O’Mard.
Jo Anne migrated to Boston, Massachusetts in the late 1950’s with her parents in pursuit of better jobs and better education. She resided in Boston for a few years, then returned back to her home in WinstonSalem and lived there with her grandmother evangelist, Thirell Coger. Jo Anne loved the South. She loved the people, the food and the simpler way of life. One of her signature dishes was the peach cobbler from Home that dressed every Thanksgiving Dinner.
Jo Anne later returned to Boston, MA to help take care of her siblings while her parents worked. She graduated from the Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Boston in 1963. She continued her education by attending secretarial school and worked as a switchboard operator.
In 1964, Jo Anne met the Late James Edward Washington, Jr. They married and from that union, they had two children, Lisa Marie and Denise Ann. A few years later, Joanne and James separated. As a single parent, Jo Anne continued to pursue higher education and obtained a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Human Services at Antioch College, Cambridge, MA, which is now known as Cambridge College. She also obtained a Master's Degree in Education from New Hampshire College in Manchester, New Hampshire.
In the 1970’s, Joanne met Ulric Tull of Barbados, West Indies. Together they had two children, Kwame Ulric and Kimya Aisha.
Over the years, Jo Anne worked different jobs and served on governing and advisory boards that focused on sustaining and improving the health status and quality of life for the people living within her community. These jobs and appointments included:
1996 to 1997 Unibase Company, Brighton, Massachusetts. Data entry Operator
1986-1996 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
-Train Operator, Guard, Collector
1993-1996 L&W Real Estate and Financial Services, Roxbury. MA. Office Manager, Rental Agent
1982-1986 Dimock Community Health Center, Roxbury, MA
-Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director of Outpatient Alcoholism Program
-Assistant to Director of Vocational and Educational Training Program
-Payroll Manager and Purchasing Agent
1980-1982 Boston City Hospital, Boston, MA
-Administrator for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
1978-1980 Brookside Park Family Life Center, Jamaica Plain, MA
-Smoking Prevention Project Coordinator for Boston Public School
-Colonoscopy Data Researcher
-Facilitator of babysitting workshops for teens
Jo Anne's other interests and Achievements included:
-Nutrition in Special Education Certificates from UMass Amherst
-Business management courses from Graham Junior College.
-Substitute teacher, English High School, Boston, MA
-Executive Board Member, Grove Hall Advisory Council, Department of Transitional Assistance.
-DSS Area Board Member, Department of Social Services, Boston, MA.
“Saada” as she was affectionately known to her friends and family, embraced her African heritage. She was part of the first African Dance Troop in Boston, MA in the 1970’s. She was an advocate for the education and advancement of people of color everywhere
Saada followed in the footsteps of her great grandmother and mother, by welcoming people from all over the world, not just to our communities, but into her home. She had an extreme love for family and accepted my people who left their families in their country and welcomed them into her’s.
Saada was proud to wear her traditional clothes, display traditional artwork and uphold African and African American spiritual and cultural traditions that have transcended time and space.
She is survived by her four children Lisa (Mitchell) Green, Denise Washington, Kwame Tull and Kimya Tull, god daughter Chetachi Onyekwere of Nigeria, West Africa; grandchildren: Aponi A. Washington, Khari S. Brown, Simmone A. Washington, Layla I. Brown, Kaamil J. Tull, Kimora R. Tull and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Jo Anne was the matriarch of her family. She will be sorely missed!
