Jo Marie Wilkinson - Obituary

o Marie Wilkinson, 78, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born on October 17, 1947, and throughout her life she gave her heart freely to everyone, fortunate enough to know her. Jo Marie was the kind of person who made others feel at home simply by being with her. She had a rare gift for making people laugh, lifting spirits with her quick wit and warm smile, and showing genuine kindness in every interaction. Friends described her as "such a beautiful soul. I love spending time with her—it's a gift, really," "the most caring lady I know," and "the funniest and nicest person I know." Those words perfectly capture the woman her family was blessed to call Mom, Nana, and friend. Her greatest joy was her family. She was the beloved mother of William Michael Wilkinson, Jr. (Helen), Michele Lee Norton and Jessica Marie Gill (James); the proud and devoted grandmother of Tyler James Gill (Heather), Dakota Lee Norton, Ryan X. Baca, Shayne Ashton, Aubrea Lyric and Henley Jade Gill; the loving great-grandmother of Grayson Tyler and Aspen Roe Gill and loving sister of Mary Elizabeth Lamb (Jimmy). Each of them carried a special place in her heart, and her love for them was constant and unconditional. Jo Marie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Michael Wilkinson Sr., and her cherished grandson, Nathan Bryce Gill. While her family finds comfort in imagining their joyful reunion, her absence leaves a space that can never truly be filled. Although our hearts are broken, we are forever grateful for the years we shared with her. Her kindness, laughter, strength, and unconditional love will continue to guide us. The lessons she taught, the memories she created, and the love she gave so freely will live on in every life she touched. To know Jo Marie was to be loved by her. Her beautiful soul will never be forgotten, and her legacy of compassion, humor, and unwavering love will remain in our hearts forever. "Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of those, we've lost shines down upon us to let us know they are happy." Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever in our hearts. A graveside service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 1911 Forest Drive, Annapolis, MD on Monday, August 10 at 12 noon.