Jo-Anne Gibson Banks

Jo-Anne Gibson Banks, affectionately referred to as Jo, JoJo, Jody or Grandma, departed this life on November 1, 2022. She was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 22, 1955, the second daughter of the late Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson and Ann Mason. She grew up in Newark, having graduated from Shabazz High School in 1973, going on to attend Seton Hall University & Thomas Edison University.

Jo worked many years for the city of Newark within the Mayor’s Office of Planning and Development in addition to helping manage Newark’s Je’s restaurant. Through the guidance of her older sister, Cheryl Gibson Fuller, she discovered her passion for accounting. She worked as a bookkeeper across several firms, including Mintz Rosenfeld, J.H. Cohn LLP and most recently, Smolin Lupin LLC.

Jo’s love for children was exemplified when she became a mother of four to Nishaha, Verina, David & Jasmine, whom she shared with her former spouse. She was an avid movie & popcorn enthusiast! On any given weekend you could find her snuggled up with her kids and grands having a movie marathon. And when tax season was complete, you could find her relaxing on a Royal Caribbean cruise with her friends and her nook tablet, which was always fully loaded with romance novels.

As she grew in her spirituality, Jo joined Reaching Out for Jesus Christian Center, under the leadership of Bishop Kenneth Pearman.

She is survived by her four children, Nishaha (Katrina), Verina, David (Christina) and Jasmine (Kazeem), sisters, Cheryl Gibson Fuller, Kennon Scott (Colin Hunter) and Joyce Bryan (Ivor), Uncle Harold Gibson (Aunt Deborah Stapleton), nephews, Mtima (Lisa), Ryan, Jason and her nine wonderful grandchildren and stepmom Camille. As well as a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. We know she is smiling down on us from heaven with her granddaughter Appolonia, affectionately known as Nia, in her arms. 

Jo will forever be remembered for her caring spirit. She was the ultimate giver, never wanted to inconvenience but always wanted to listen, often shouldering everyone else’s burdens. Jo-Anne was a present to everyone she knew, her hugs were the wrapping, but her spirit was the gift.  She will forever be our angel and guiding light. We love you, Jo.

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