Mary "Joanne" Gibson Horton, 91, of Jesup, Georgia, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2025. She was born on November 11, 1933, in Sulphur, Louisiana, and later made Jesup her home with her beloved husband, Fred "Pud" Horton. Her life was full of adventure — from the bayous of South Louisiana, to living abroad and welcoming her first child in France, to finally planting deep roots in Jesup with Fred, where together they grew a beautiful family. Nannie, as she was lovingly known, was the heart of her family. She adored her three children — Sharon (Warren) Whidden, Michael (Sherry) Horton, and Melissa (Kemper) Smalley — and poured all her love into her grandchildren, Sherri (Michael) Hutto, Amy (Tracy) Tripp, Meghan (Brice) Jones, Lauren (Tyler) Scott, Garrison Smalley, and Rachel Smalley. She treasured her role as great-grandmother to Vanessa, Nathan, Sebastian, Addie Rae, Charley, Hadley, Leighton, Carter, Raegan, Bennett, and Elias, and great-great-grandmother to Vada and Anniston. Her sister, Millie Gibson Cockfield, brother, Kenneth (Melinda) Gibson, also survives her. She found joy in the simple pleasures of life, like her Saturday night hangouts with "The Golden Girls," and strength in her longtime membership at First Baptist Church Jesup, where her faith guided every step of her journey. She will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her joyful spirit, and the love she so freely gave. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and all who were blessed to know her. Joanne is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Horton, with whom she shared a lifetime of love, devotion, and adventure along with her 3 brothers, Raymond, Russell and Malcolm Gibson. Today, her family takes comfort in knowing that she is reunited with him in the presence of her Lord and Savior.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at Jesup First Baptist Church with Pastor Brooks Haddock officiating. Interment will follow in the Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be her grandsons and great-grandsons.

Family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m. prior to services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jesup First Baptist Church, 185 South Brunswick Street, Jesup, GA 31545.

Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.