Georgia “Jo” Evelyn (Tankersley, Kennedy) Tomes, of Pekin, Indiana,
passed away in her home, surrounded by love on Wednesday, April 8th,
2026, at the age of 102.
She was born March 25, 1924, in Dryden, Virginia, and was the daughter
of the late Burley Tankersley and Susie Jane (Clark) Tankersley.
She married Percy Kennedy in 1945, prior to his passing in 1960, they
had two children: Beverly and Greg Kennedy. After raising her children,
she married James “Jim” Eugene Tomes in 1988; Jim passed away in 2024
after 36 years of marriage.
Jo is survived by her son, Gregory Kennedy of Pekin, IN; stepdaughters,
Kathy and Karol Tomes of Clarksville, TN; stepson, Jim Tomes of Old
Fort, NC; 5 grandchildren, and several great grandchildren. She is also
survived by her sister, Alzada (Sadie) and multiple generations of
nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Beverly Kennedy;
stepdaughter, Janet Tomes; granddaughter, Jamie (Tomes) Webb; and great
granddaughter, Addison Hart.
A real life “Rosie the Riveter”, she was a Marine Corps aircraft
mechanic at Quantico, VA during WWII, and went on to retire from the old
B.F. Goodrich in Salem, IN. Jo was a long-time member of the South
Liberty Church and hairstylist for 22 years before officially retiring,
again.
Visitation: Friday 4/10/2026 from 4 – 8pm and from 10-1pm on Saturday.
Funeral Service: Saturday at 1pm at Dawalt Funeral Home with John Denny
officiating.
A committal service and Interment will follow at Mt.
Washington Cemetery in Pekin, IN.
