Joann Givens Ortega

Private graveside services for Joann Givens Ortega were held May, 15, 2020, at Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery in Monticello. Bro. Johnny Calcote officiated the services with Wilson Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
Joann Givens Ortega, 84, of Monticello, passed away peacefully May 11 at 8:53 p.m. at home with her children at her side. Joann was born on May 28, 1935, in Baskin, La., to Alice and Shelton Givens. Her family moved to NOLA when she was a young girl, where she lived for 60 years before moving to Monticello.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Alice and Shelton Givens; and granddaughter, Jolie Hajovsky. She is survived by one sister, Gail Howell, of Lucedale. Joann is also survived by her four children, Renee’ Mancini, of Slidell, La.; Dana Hajovsky, of Pflugerville, Texas; Kerri Smith (Michael), of Monticello; Jaime Ortega, of Monticello. Joann has five grandchildren, Richard Mancini Jr. (Melissa), Michelle Mancini Walker-Rice (Douglas), Emily Kinsey (Brandyn), Brianna Hajovsky, and Linzi Blacklidge (Greg). Joann also has six great-grandsons, Braden Mancini, Spencer Mancini, Royce Mancini, Bentley Kinsey, Brady Kinsey, and Mason Cosper.
For 22 years, Joann worked for Bellsouth Telephone Company in NOLA in Corporate and Community Affairs. After retiring to Monticello, she attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College and earned a MS Health Science Certificate as an LPN. She loved caring for people, this was one of her most cherished vocations.
Joann loved to write; she had a unique style of writing that brought her stories to living color. For several years, she wrote the Carmel Community News column for the Lawrence County Press. She loved writing her column and presenting stories of residents in the community to curious readers. One unique trait in her column was the ending, “and so it went…” And yes, it did, leaving us wondering what her next story would be.
She was a founding and past member of the Lawrence County Animal Rescue League and past member of Lawrence County Historical Society, Art Directors and Designers Association in NOLA, and Twentieth Century Club in Lawrence County.
Joann had many exciting interests, such as traveling the world. She was an artist, loved writing, going to the movies, and reading. Scrabble was her game of choice, and she always won.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in the memory of Joann Givens Ortega to the Lawrence County Animal Rescue League at 1507 Reid Road, Monticello, MS 39654, or visit the Facebook website.
Special thank you to the nurses and patient care techs with Compassus Hospice.
Also, special thank you to Kerri Smith and Jaime Ortega for years of love and dedication to the care of our mother.
And the day turned to night and the night to day.
Professing our love, our thanks, gently hugs. It was time to labor no more. Sitting vigilant not knowing your end. You were never alone. We held your hand and kissed you goodbye. Then peacefully, God called you home.
In a mindless drift, we stare at everything, yet nothing captures our thoughts, we’re numb. Mindlessly numb, we feel like children lost in the mirrored maze. Where’s mommy? Mommy will rescue us. Yes, our sweet mommy will find us.
We’re Standing on the Promises of God our Savior. Because He Lives, we can face tomorrow. It’s the Whispering Hope of his Amazing Grace that we can Taste and See the goodness of The Lord. We are not home, but we are going home One Sweet Day. The Lord has carried our beautiful mommy Home Sweet Home.
The day turns to night and the night to day, forevermore.
“And so, it is…”
“And so, it went…”
Renee’ Mancini
5/12/2020 at 8:53 a.m.