Jo-Anne Dawn King Whalen was born on February 11, 1960 to Faith Morandus and Twyman J. Nelson in Boston, Massachusetts. Jo-Anne grew up in Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts. She grew up in the Catholic Church and was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Church. It was there she chose her confirmation name as "Dawn". Jo-Anne graduated from Boston Technical High School and went on to attend Boston College where she graduated with a degree in Speech Communications. During this period of her life, she was a member of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc., President of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Boston Metro Dove Court, an active member of the Black Student Union, and President of the then newly formed Voices of Imani Gospel Choir, now an international group at Boston College. Over the past 35 years, Jo-Anne had a long prominent and successful career. After college, she went to work for Anteon Corporation as their Director of Operations. Later in 2003, she became the Vice President of Marketing and Admissions for the University of Fairfax in Virginia. Under her leadership, she increased the number of students receiving high quality technical masters and doctorate degrees. She has lived in various places throughout her life including Boston, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Virginia. She met her true love, James "Edward" Whalen in June 1999. From that union, their son, Job Nicholas Whalen, was born. They married on September 15, 2012 in Louisa, Virginia. Jo-Anne would describe the past 17 years as the most fulfilling and blessed period of her life. She entered eternal life on Friday November 4, 2016 at the University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her mother, Faith Morandus Thames, father, Twyman J. Nelson; brother, Earthen Thames, Jr. and mother-in-law, Viola B. Whalen. She is survived by her devoted husband, James "Edward" Whalen; loving children, Job Whalen, Brianna "Shay" Whalen, Brandon Woodford-Whalen, Janisha "Nina" Cooper, and Chris Curry (wife Jami); grandchildren, Mitahjj Cooper and Claire Curry; brothers, Carl Morandus and Andre Thames (wife Lori); sister, Jeannie Morandus; brothers-in-law, John (wife Gail), Greg (wife Rosetta), and Joe; sisters-in-law, Ann (partner Bruce), Carolyn (husband Wilbert), Janice (husband Marvin), and Doris; and a host of devoted friends, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Temple of Deliverance HCG 5657 Zachary Taylor Highway Mineral, VA 23093. Interment will follow in the Zion Travelers Baptist Church 3662 Roundabout Road Louisa, VA 23093.