Obituary for JoAnn Elizabeth Buggs (Mason)
JoAnn Elizabeth Mason Buggs was born on November 18, 1950, to parents Albert Gray, Sr. and Janie Mae Mason in Jacksonville, Florida. As a young child, she attended Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church. As a teenager, she was baptized into the Catholic faith at St. Pius V Catholic Church where she later served as a devoted member of the church’s finance council, stewardship committee, prayer group, pastoral council, St. Bernadette Council, and served as a lector/commentator, Sunday school teacher and the Supervisor of Sunday Schools. She raised her three daughters in the church and depended on prayer for everything.
JoAnn was educated in the Duval County School System, beginning with A.L. Lewis Elementary School, then Darnell Cookman Junior High School. She graduated from New Stanton High School in 1968 where she was a member of the Glee Club. After high school, she entered Florida A&M University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Correction in 1972. While attending FAMU, she served as Miss Scabbard and Blade, a college military honor society. She later obtained a Master of Science degree in Administration and Supervision from Nova University in 1977.
While in high school, JoAnn met the love of her life, Harrel Tyrone Buggs. In 1971, they were united in holy matrimony, a union that resulted in three daughters: Kammi Mignon, Harrelyn Tyrese, and Janni Marie.
JoAnn began her career as a speech pathologist in 1974 with Atlanta Public Schools. She later moved back home to Jacksonville, FL, where her career spanned 36 more years in the Duval County Public School System. She always made herself available to help any students and their families when needed, as well as young teachers joining the profession. After retirement, she joined Duval County Retired Educators where she served as the secretary.
JoAnn was initiated in 1988 into Gamma Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she was an active member for over thirty years. She was a life member and a Silver Star as well as a Chapter Life Member of Gamma Rho Omega. She held several leadership roles on both the regional and local level that included Regional Co-Chairman of Public Reception, Gamma Rho Omega 1999-2002 Sargent-at-Arms and Corporation member, 2003-2004 Assistant Secretary and 2018-2019 Assistant Graduate Advisor for Edward Waters University. She served as chairman of the Awards Committee and the 2005 Silver Rose Debutante Coterie Committee. She remained active in many sorority activities and enjoyed time spent with KAS (Keen Age Sorors).
Within the community, she was a supporter of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. She was also a member of the JRE Lee chapter of the FAMU Alumni Association.
JoAnn Elizabeth Mason Buggs transitioned peacefully on January 5, 2023. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harrel T. Buggs; father, Mr. Albert Gray, Sr.; and uncle, Herman “Pop” Mason, Sr.
Her life will be cherished by her loving and devoted mother, Janie Mason; daughters, Dr. Kammi Henderson (Jimmy), Dr. Harrelyn Woodfaulk (Rory), and Janni Marie Buggs; granddaughters, Kahtya, Nikiah, and Jiliah Henderson, and Camille and Cymone Woodfaulk; uncle, James “Bubba” Mason Jr.; cousins, Rev. Dr. Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., Sylvia Levy, Arnetta Taylor (Cedric), Michelle Ward, Prince Levy, Jr (Shondraya); godsister, Edgaranna Bardwell; goddaughters, Francenia and Feletta Smith; sister in Christ, Shirley Mills; nieces and nephews, Patricia Holder, Lorna Buggs, Jacquelyn Buggs, Terence Buggs, Dr. Adrienne Carlisle (Barry), Sharron Patterson, Karen Patterson, Keira Jackson, Christopher Hughley and Andrew Buggs III; sisters-in-law, Betty Buggs, Georgia Buggs, Miriam Buggs, Karen Jenkins, and Barbara Hughley; caretakers, Mary Smith and Claudette Hansberry; and a host of family and friends.
JoAnn was educated in the Duval County School System, beginning with A.L. Lewis Elementary School, then Darnell Cookman Junior High School. She graduated from New Stanton High School in 1968 where she was a member of the Glee Club. After high school, she entered Florida A&M University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Correction in 1972. While attending FAMU, she served as Miss Scabbard and Blade, a college military honor society. She later obtained a Master of Science degree in Administration and Supervision from Nova University in 1977.
While in high school, JoAnn met the love of her life, Harrel Tyrone Buggs. In 1971, they were united in holy matrimony, a union that resulted in three daughters: Kammi Mignon, Harrelyn Tyrese, and Janni Marie.
JoAnn began her career as a speech pathologist in 1974 with Atlanta Public Schools. She later moved back home to Jacksonville, FL, where her career spanned 36 more years in the Duval County Public School System. She always made herself available to help any students and their families when needed, as well as young teachers joining the profession. After retirement, she joined Duval County Retired Educators where she served as the secretary.
JoAnn was initiated in 1988 into Gamma Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she was an active member for over thirty years. She was a life member and a Silver Star as well as a Chapter Life Member of Gamma Rho Omega. She held several leadership roles on both the regional and local level that included Regional Co-Chairman of Public Reception, Gamma Rho Omega 1999-2002 Sargent-at-Arms and Corporation member, 2003-2004 Assistant Secretary and 2018-2019 Assistant Graduate Advisor for Edward Waters University. She served as chairman of the Awards Committee and the 2005 Silver Rose Debutante Coterie Committee. She remained active in many sorority activities and enjoyed time spent with KAS (Keen Age Sorors).
Within the community, she was a supporter of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. She was also a member of the JRE Lee chapter of the FAMU Alumni Association.
JoAnn Elizabeth Mason Buggs transitioned peacefully on January 5, 2023. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harrel T. Buggs; father, Mr. Albert Gray, Sr.; and uncle, Herman “Pop” Mason, Sr.
Her life will be cherished by her loving and devoted mother, Janie Mason; daughters, Dr. Kammi Henderson (Jimmy), Dr. Harrelyn Woodfaulk (Rory), and Janni Marie Buggs; granddaughters, Kahtya, Nikiah, and Jiliah Henderson, and Camille and Cymone Woodfaulk; uncle, James “Bubba” Mason Jr.; cousins, Rev. Dr. Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., Sylvia Levy, Arnetta Taylor (Cedric), Michelle Ward, Prince Levy, Jr (Shondraya); godsister, Edgaranna Bardwell; goddaughters, Francenia and Feletta Smith; sister in Christ, Shirley Mills; nieces and nephews, Patricia Holder, Lorna Buggs, Jacquelyn Buggs, Terence Buggs, Dr. Adrienne Carlisle (Barry), Sharron Patterson, Karen Patterson, Keira Jackson, Christopher Hughley and Andrew Buggs III; sisters-in-law, Betty Buggs, Georgia Buggs, Miriam Buggs, Karen Jenkins, and Barbara Hughley; caretakers, Mary Smith and Claudette Hansberry; and a host of family and friends.