Hilton Head, South Carolina - HILTON HEAD, S.C. - JoAnn Axtell died May 17, 2026, in her home in Hilton head Island, South Carolina. She was born in Bath to Evelynn and Rumsey Billings, and met her husband, Donald, before going to Cortland State University as a physical education major.

Her future father-in-law introduced her to her future husband, Donald, at a playground where JoAnn supervised children for a summer job. Donald was hitting golf balls in an empty field next to the playground. He hit a bad shot and threw the golf club, and she remembered thinking, "He's so handsome." Our grandfather was a perfect matchmaker because, as JoAnn loved to relate, "They we were married for 65 years, and only separated by his passing in 2018." Before he passed Donald would often tell JoAnn, "We had some ride." She was proud of her loving marriage, and never remarried.

As a physical education teacher, she spent most of her career substituting in various school systems in New York. For one kindergarten class she arrived early the first day for a one-year assignment and wrote a learning aid on the board for her name. She drew a picture of an ax and a tree and told the story of honest Abe Lincoln who chopped down a cherry tree with an ax and couldn't tell a lie, Ax-tell. It's a testimonial to how she was loved by her students that when she happened to teach the same class as high school seniors, she was greeted with exactly the same illustration of how to pronounce her name the first day of the school year. Twelve years later the students remembered her fondly enough to relate her origin story.

She loved to vacation with family and didn't hesitate to teach outside of school. She fiercely guarded the safety and well being of those she loved in her way, and was beloved in her retirement neighborhood, and shared her passion for photography by gifting her neighbors charming photos of their dogs, and sharing her photo albums of wildlife and family.

She is survived by her three children, Jodi Axtell, James Carey Axtell, and John David Axtell; grandchildren, Josh, Ben, Hannah, Megan, Morghen, and Austin; great-grandchildren, Lilliana, Evelyn, Roman, and Juniper; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Billings, and several nieces and nephews. JoAnn was predeceased by her parents and brother Lavene Billings.

JoAnn was an avid gardener so flowers or a potted plan in her remembrance are welcome. Potted plants will be placed in JoAnn's home flower garden.

A celebration of life will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. June 13 at First Presbyterian Church, 296 Main Street.

A burial will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. June 14 at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, 7596 South Valley Road.