Jo Ann Cannon Dorin

Jo Ann Cannon Dorin passed away on March 26, 2024, at the age of 81 at home with her family after about a year of declining health.  She leaves behind Dennis Dorin of Chapel Hill, NC (her husband of 56 years), son Brooks Dorin of Myrtle Beach, SC, daughter Cathy Dorin-Black of Chapel Hill, NC, grandson Lawson Black of Chapel Hill, NC, step-granddaughter Valleri Glover of Nashville, TN, and sister-in-law Linda Dorin of Charlotte, NC.  She also leaves behind son-in-law Luke Black and daughter-in-law Angie Dorin, both of whom she loved as her own children.  She had many dear friends in Charlotte and Chapel Hill and elsewhere - she loved you all very much and you know who you are.

Mom was born on May 22, 1942, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the only child of William Louis Cannon and Ruth “Lucile” Jenkins Cannon.  Her family moved around a lot during childhood but mom primarily grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and Greensboro, NC where she went to high school.  She attended Salem College for a year then transferred to the University of Virginia, where she became a lifelong Wahoo.  While working on her masters in the College of Education, she met another grad student Dennis Dorin who was working on his doctorate in Political Science.  Mom and Dad were married on June 15, 1968 and moved to Alexandria, Virginia where Dad worked for American University and Mom worked as a substitute teacher.  In 1972, Mom and Dad moved to Charlotte, NC where Dad worked as a professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  After the arrival of Brooks and later Cathy, Mom devoted herself to full time parenting, taking care of the house, various spoiled Pekingeses over the years, and providing stability to all of us.  In 2011, mom and dad moved to Chapel Hill, NC where they helped raise their beloved grandson Lawson Black.  In her later years, mom enjoyed dinners out with friends, frequent trips to Myrtle Beach, and ever faithfully watching (and sometimes yelling at) her Atlanta Braves every night.

It is impossible to summarize someone’s life in a few paragraphs.  My mom was described as a “spitfire,” a “sassy girl,” and a “straight shooter.”  The truth is she believed in being forthright, honest, empathetic, and good above all else.  Because of her “tell it like it is” nature, our family has always been real with each other through good and bad, remained close, and importantly laughed a lot through it all and tried not to take ourselves too seriously.  My hope is her spirit will endure through those she met, inspired, and made laugh during her life.  We love you always, Mom, and are forever grateful you were our mom.  There was and never will be another.

The family would like to thank UNC Hospice for their devoted, compassionate care in the last days of mom’s life.  Donations can be made in mom’s memory to ChildFund International (call 1-800-776-6767 to put it in her name).  A celebration of her life will be scheduled at a later date.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Dorin family.