Sharon Elizabeth Cox Singleton | Eastern NC Now

    Mrs. Sharon Elizabeth Cox Singleton, affectionately known to all as "JoJo," of the Big Swamp community north of Washington passed away with her family by her side at her home on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

    A private burial will occur on Saturday morning, August 16th at the Singleton Family Cemetery adjacent to her home of over fifty-five years, followed by a public celebration of life at 12:00 PM in the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington. The family will receive friends immediately afterwards at the home of her son and daughter-in-law S. Gregory and Ashley P. Singleton at 409 Alderson Road in Washington.

    Active pallbearers include her grandsons Samuel Durham Singleton, Tate Gregory Singleton and John Ashton Singleton along with nephews Joseph Lilley, Brad Alligood, and Steve Bowden as well as special friends and professional colleagues Jim Chrisman and Paul Spruill.

    Honorary pallbearers will be nephews F. Mac Hodges, Les Hodges, Rodney Rogerson, Billy Moore, Scott Bowden, Chris Bowden, Mike Bowden, Kevin Swanner, Jeffrey Swanner, Jason Brooks, Kelly Cox, and Kyle Cox along with dear friends Commissioner Ed Booth and Commissioner Jerry Langley.

    Mrs. Singleton was born on April 13, 1950 at the old Tayloe Hospital in Washington, delivered by Dr. John Cotten Tayloe. She was the daughter of the late Arthur Kelly Cox and Margie Woolard Keel. As a young child in the hospital with tonsilitis at Christmas time, her father brought her an early Christmas present consisting of a cowboy suit complete with a hat and a toy pistol. Dr. John came in and said, "Look at you, Cowgirl Jo!" The name stuck.

    She grew up near Bath Creek on Stell Road. As a young child, she worked on her grandfather's farm priming and looping tobacco to pay for school clothes and book fees. In high school, she moved to Broad Creek.

    JoJo was a 1968 graduate of Bath High School where she excelled at basketball and was a three-year starter and letterwinner under legendary Coach Jack Wallace, who was a role model throughout her entire life. Mr. Wallace made sure the Bath school bus met her and picked her up every day at the Bath/Washington school attendance line. He wanted her to attend East Carolina College on a partial basketball scholarship, but she decided to go to work and attend community college instead. JoJo also served as an officer in the Future Homemakers of America Club and participated in various other clubs and activities as well as serving on the Homecoming Court.

    After high school, JoJo worked at Hamilton Beach and was one of the first students to attend Beaufort County Technical Institute, the forerunner to BCCC, during its formative years when classes were held in Downtown Washington. One day, she noticed that her car was blocked in its parking space near North Market and West Second Streets by another while leaving class. She heard a young man whistling at her from the third floor of the former post office, now City Hall. The young man agreed to move his car and allow her to pass if she would agree to a date with him. She did and by the end of the date, Samuel Harvey Singleton, Jr. had decided that he would marry her.

    Sam and JoJo were married on August 16, 1969 and had nearly twenty-four years of happiness together until his death on August 12, 1993. They built a life and family together at Big Swamp farming corn, soybeans, wheat, and tobacco. JoJo was a devoted partner in the farm and kept up the books, ran errands, picked up parts, helping Sam in every way possible.

    Along the way, three children were born that further fulfilled their happiness: Samuel Gregory Singleton, Susan Elizabeth Singleton, and Sara Jeneane Singleton.

    In the 1980's, JoJo changed careers and began working for Beaufort County Government. Over thirty years, she worked her way up from a receptionist, to secretary, to Assistant to the County Manager, and retired as Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners. She was active in numerous professional organizations during her career and retirement and served as an officer in the North Carolina Association of County Clerks. JoJo was certified as a municipal clerk by the International Association of Municipal Clerks and the School of Government at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

    Upon her retirement in 2014, JoJo was honored to be awarded our state's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Patrick L. McCrory.

    JoJo was a member of Old Ford Church of Christ and in earlier years had served in Circles, the nursery, and various committees. She also assisted her husband by serving as team mom as he coached youth baseball and softball.

    Over the past twenty years, feeding her grandsons was one of her passions. They enjoyed Amma's spaghetti and hamburger steak. JoJo was a talented cook and would often take meals to older residents of her community and others. Her chocolate pie was legendary across three counties.

    Survivors include her son S. Gregory Singleton and his wife Ashley Prevatte Singleton of Washington; her daughter, who courageously served as her primary caregiver over her final weeks, Sara J. Singleton of Winston-Salem; sisters Jackie Hadley of Washington and Barbara "Bobby" Woolard of Pinetown; brother Artie Cox of Washington; grandsons Samuel D. Singleton and his wife Hannah Porter Singleton of Greenville, Tate G. Singleton of Greenville, and John A. Singleton of Greensboro, along with numerous nieces and nephews and special friends.

    Along with her parents and husband, JoJo was predeceased by her daughter Susan E. Singleton and sisters Brenda Alligood and Sondra Lee.

    The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, August 15, 2025, at Paul Funeral Home and Crematory and at other times, including after the celebration of life, at her son and daughter-in-law's home at 409 Alderson Road in the Smallwood community.

    In accordance with her wishes, those attending her services are encouraged to wear bright, vibrant colors as we all know those were JoJo's favorite.

    The family wishes to extend sincere appreciation to all who assisted with her care by staying with her at various times throughout these past few weeks, and especially to her special friends and caregivers Deneen Keel and Laney Hodges.