Joanne Maini

Former Fort White Town Councilwoman Joanne MacLeod Maini passed away on June 5, 2023 after a battle with breast cancer. Joanne MacLeod Hocutt Coffin Maini was born on May 9, 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts. She was the second daughter of Walter J. and Lorraine MacLeod. She grew up in the town of Hanover, MA, a place that she fondly remembered throughout her life. She attended elementary and high school in Hanover. She met her first husband, Jimmie R. Hocutt, while he was stationed at Otis Air Force Base. They moved out to Cape Cod, and it was there that their first child, Jay Walter Hocutt, was born in January 1958. Five and a half years later, their second child, Jeffrey Allen Hocutt, was born in June 1963. It was her youth and young adult years in New England that provided her with her life-long love of antiques, knitting and crocheting, and making braided and hooked rugs. In June 1969, the Air Force sent Jimmie to Itasuki Air Force Base in Fukuoka, Japan on the island of Kyushu. Joanne relocated her family to Japan where they spent the next three years in base housing. While in Japan, Joanne taught English to Japanese college students. Her New England dialect was sought after by students wanting to know English to improve their own futures. She and her family learned a great deal about Japanese culture during their stay. She retained fond memories of this time throughout her life. After their time in Japan, Joanne and her family returned to Hanover as her husband was posted to the Philippines for a brief tour of 18 months. This put a great deal of strain on the marriage. When reposted back to the states to Warner Robins, Georgia, Joanne and Jimmie decided to divorce. Joanne then took her two sons and followed her parents who had recently moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While living in Fort Lauderdale, Joanne worked in the fine china section of Burdines Department store in the Hollywood Fashion Center Mall. She was quickly promoted to training supervisor. She then took a job working for Lawton's Jewelry store. It was while working at Lawton's that she met and later married her third husband, Henry J. Maini, the mailman whose route included the stores in the mall. After working for almost 10 years for Lawton's, Joanne then went to work as a switchboard operator for the city of Miramar, Florida. After a few years, she had an opportunity to work in the same capacity for American Express. She worked for American Express for nine years. In her spare time living and working in South Florida, Joanne would visit yard sales and flea markets every weekend as she looked for valuable antiques she could then resell. She also painted items her husband, Henry, made, as well as knitted baby blankets and bootie sets for friends and family. In 1994, Joanne and Henry relocated to Fort White, Florida to be closer to her youngest son, Jeffrey, and his family. While in Fort White, Joanne continued to hunt for antiques, knit and sew for her grandchildren, and make braided and hooked rugs that she had enjoyed so much growing up in New England. She also regularly babysat her grandchildren as they grew from toddlers to young teens. In 2010, she illustrated the coloring book Let's Color with Grandma, a collection of drawings depicting women's fashion styles through the ages. In 2012, Joanne was elected to the Fort White Town Council. She became the oldest first time elected female politician in the state of Florida. She proudly served her constituents throughout her entire 4-year term helping to begin a used needle drop-off point in the town's fire station for local diabetics, helping to deal with the town's water issues, and helping to elect the town's first African-American mayor. During this time, she was also an active member of the High Springs Women's Club. She competed several times in the Women's Club Arts and Crafts contest entering her New England hooked rugs. She won Best in Show in the GFWC District 5 competition in 2018. Joanne eventually became the full-time caregiver to her husband, Henry, as he began to suffer the effects of long-term diabetes and the early stages of dementia. After Henry was placed in a care facility because she could no longer physically take care of him, Joanne traveled daily to Lake City, Florida to spend time with him. Joanne became a widow in October 2015 after Henry died from a severe case of pneumonia. In 2018, Joanne moved in with her son, Jeffrey, where she spent much of her time crocheting potholders and hotpads, growing tomatoes, and continuing to buy and sell antiques. Joanne was predeceased by her father, Water John MacLeod; her mother, Loretta (Lorraine) Allen MacLeod; her brother, Walter John Macleod, Jr.; her sister, Lorraine Wright. She is also predeceased by her first husband, Jimmie Hocutt, and her second husband, Dean Coffin. Joanne is survived by her son Jay Walter Hocutt and his wife, Debbie; their son John Hollenbeck, his wife, Gina, and their daughter, Nichole; their other son Billy Hollenbeck, his wife, Hillary, their children Stacy and Noah, and Stacy's children with Tre Freeman Jeremiah and Kaylani. Joanne is also survived by her son Jeffrey Allen Hocutt and his wife, Julie; her grandson Jeramiah Hocutt and his wife, Jasmine and their daughter - Joanne's great-granddaughter, Juliana; and her granddaughter Jaylynne Hocutt. She is also survived by her nephews and nieces Peter Wright, Jamie Wright, David Wright, Lori Wright, and Lisa MacLeod Rubin. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joanne's memory may be made to Community Hospice, 163 SW Stonegate Terrace #105, Lake City, Florida 32024 or online at https://www.communityhospice.com/ Visitation will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Evans-Carter Funeral Home, 18724 High Springs Main Street, High Springs, Florida, and the graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 10 at 11:00 am at the Fort White Cemetery in Fort White, Florida.

Joanne Maini

June 7, 2023