Funeral service for Jo Ann Harbin Land, age 86, of Hazel Green, AL, formerly of Fayetteville, TN, will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Higgins Funeral Home, with Ron Land officiating. Interment will follow in Riverview Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be from 11 AM until 1 PM on Saturday at Higgins Funeral Home.
Jo Ann was born on December 22, 1937, in Tullahoma, TN, to the late Woodrow Wilson Harbin and Laura Vivian Jones Harbin. She was a graduate of Central High School and of the Baptist faith. Ms. Land worked as an administrative assistant with the Alabama A&M ROTC department. Jo Ann had a gift for showing love through her baking. Her cakes, lovingly made and often shared, were a hallmark of her kindness. Jo Ann passed away on November 23, 2024, at her residence.
She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Vivian Fried (Carl) of Hazel Green and Karen Elizabeth Piser (Tim) of Delray Beach, FL; grandchildren, Joey Fried (Marcia), Carl Fried, Jr. (Jillian), and Laura Potesta Kugler (Matt); great-grandchildren, Jude, Brody, Claire, Penny, and Lucy Fried, and Luka Kugler; sister, Barbara Williamson (Horace), and her beloved dog, Candy Land.
In addition to her parents, Jo Ann was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Joe L. Land, who passed in 2014; her grandson, Drew Potesta; and her sister, Carolyn Marie Harbin Gault.
Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jo Ann Harbin Land.
Dear Karen.
I’m very sorry to lear of your mother’s passing. I am Wilma T. Booker. Mattie is my sister, and I know that your mother and Matter were very close. Give my respects to the rest of your family.
With Sympathy AND God’s blesding for your Family .
Wilma T Booker, one of your math teachers at DHMS
Dear Land Family,
My deepest condolences to all of you for your loss. JoAnn was a ray of sunshine in so many peoples’ lives – both inside and outside the ROTC community.
My fondest memory of her was her willingness to go into work immediately after the 2011 tornados to finish the cadets’ commissioning paperwork – she certainly didn’t have to do it, but I admired her willingness to ensure that others’ new careers got off to a good start despite all of the destruction around Huntsville.
She will be sorely missed, but she remains in the hearts of those who worked with her as well as those she prepared for commissioning.
Dear Land Family,
Angie and I were deeply saddened to hear of Ms. Land’s passing. During my time as a Professor of Military Science and ROTC instructor at Alabama A&M University, her unwavering dedication, kindness, and servant’s heart left an indelible mark not only on our Bulldog student battalion but on everyone she encountered.
JoAnn’s decades of faithful service were far more than a job—she embodied the spirit of selflessness and grace, uplifting and inspiring everyone around her. During my time, Joe and JoAnn were great inspirations to the entire ROTC family and we celebrated their big wedding anniversaries together in Hazel Green. They met every challenge with humility and a smile, always going above and beyond to support others with a Christlike heart.
While her absence is profoundly felt, we take comfort knowing her legacy of service and love will continue to live on in the countless lives she touched. Thousands of commissioned Army officers joined, served, and led successful because of her work at AAMU to get them there! She made a lasting impact and is now resting in the arms of our Savior.
Please know that the Harris family is keeping yours in prayer, asking for God’s peace, comfort, and strength to surround you during this difficult time.
With deepest gratitude and heartfelt sympathy,
LTC (R) Louis Lontrell Harris (United States Army Retired) and Mrs. Andrea Harris
I was deeply saddened to learn of Mrs. Land’s passing. As a proud 1981 graduate of the Alabama A&M University ROTC program, I had the privilege of experiencing her grace, kindness, and exceptional expertise firsthand. Mrs. Land’s unwavering dedication to the cadets left a lasting impression on me and so many others. She will always hold a special place in my memories of those formative years in the ROTC program.
May she rest in peace, and may her legacy of care and commitment continue to inspire. I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends as you navigate this profound loss. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
My sincere condolences to the Land family. Please take solace in knowing that she helped and was loved by many. I will truly miss Ms. Land. She was a staple of our ROTC program and helped many of us navigate the endless paperwork needed to become commissioned officers. Cadre would come and go but Ms. Land and Ms. Baker were always there. When I saw her last year at the military ball, I was shocked that she remembered me after almost 50 years. She was an iconic figure at the AAMU Bulldog Battalion and will be missed by many Rest well Ms. Land, and I salute you!
My deepest sympathy to Vivian, Karen and their precious families! I have known JoAnn soon after she and her dear husband got married and was living there when they had their first beautiful baby girl, Nancy Vivian!!! We lived in a house with two apartments 1404 and 1406 Randolph Street in Huntsville ! We shared some wonderful times together! Over the last few years, we were not able to see each other but kept up thru Facebook and phone calls! One of the sweet memories I have of she and Joe was my husband Bob and Joe were both baptized at the same time at Southside Baptist Church! She and Joe loved so very much their girls and their grandchildren!!! I know she and Joe and her host of family and friends gone on before her are enjoying together the splendor of heaven! Love and Prayers to all of her Dear Family
Aunt Josie you were an absolutely amazing woman. As a kid I can still hear your wonderful laugh. As an adult I so appreciate the love you poured out for those you loved. Thanks for being a part of my world and I can’t wait to share a slice of happiness and cake with you in the next life. What a blessing you have been for so many. I love you. ❤️
Sorry to learn of Jo Ann’s passing. Joe was my cousin from TN. My sincere sympathy to the family.
To the Land Family,
I extend my deepest condolences to your entire family. I have known Ms Land for more than 40 years. She was the matriarch of Alabama A&M University ROTC Program. I was commissioned in 1988 and share many fond memories with Ms Land over the years. Each time I visited the campus, I would often visit her. Every time she remember me – even years after retiring. It was great seeing her at the 50th ROTC Anniversary. Jo Land will always be remembered and cherish for her professionalism, kindness, and loving support of her cadets and officers.
I last saw Mrs. Land in April of 2023 at the 50th Anniversary of the Bulldogs Battalion. She was lovely as ever. Like so many of us who ventured into ROTC halls not knowing what to expect, she had a way of calming us with her sweet smile and purposeful words. She might not have worn a uniform or taught a class, but she played a MAJOR role in our transformation into Army Officers. She has left her mark on all who traveled through those halls. She will definitely be missed!
Land Family please accept our most sincere condolences on the transition of Mrs Land from labor to glory with the Lord. Her service to AAMU’s Bulldog Brigade and Battalion, the U S Army, and our nation spanned two generations of preparing us as young men and women to meet challenges from peace to war. Two generations of our own family (Colonel Retired, Major, and Captain) have or currently serve as a result of her dedication and critical help. God speed.
Mrs. Land was at Alabama A&M University, ROTC Dept, 1984-86, when I was in the program. I remember her as being sweet, kind, and had an angelic demeanor. Praying for comfort and peace for the family. May her memories and Legacy live on in your heart.
Mrs. Land, was a true Alabama A&M Bulldog Brigade Icon. In her passing, she has indeed achieved her heavenly wings. God bless her beautiful soul for her love, professionalism and unwavering dedication to our military careers. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
In 1997, I walked into the Alabama A&M ROTC department expecting to deal with military personnel and instead encountered one of the most formidable and wonderful ladies I would ever meet- Mrs. Jo Ann Land. I had a bad attitude, a worse haircut and came strolling in with sunglasses and birkenstocks thinking the world owed me something. Mrs. Land quickly set me straight. She sat me down in the chair at the end of her desk and told me that if I didn’t take myself seriously then no one would. She said that if I wanted to achieve anything in the Army or in life, I had to be willing to work harder than everyone else. She shook her head and laughed at my long hair, scraggly beard, and baggy clothes. She said the first thing I had to do was get cleaned up and look respectable and then maybe there would be something to discuss. She sent me on my way with my tail between my legs. I left there, went to a barber and cut all my hair off, shaved, got new shoes and full suit, and went back to see Mrs. Land the next day. I walked in to her office and asked if we could talk now and she said of course and introduced herself. I told her we had met yesterday and she said, “I don’t think so honey.” I said “Mrs. Land. It’s me. David Hawkins. I was here yesterday!” And she started laughing and gave me such a big hug and said, “you clean up pretty good! I wasn’t expecting this!” And I said, “Well you told me to Mrs. Land and I knew you were right.” She replied, “Hold on. We’re going to call my husband and you tell him that for me please- after that we can talk,” and she started to laugh again. I went on to earn a 3-year ROTC scholarship and Mrs. Land’s guidance and assistance got me through some truly difficult times. Her and the tough love of the best NCO I ever knew- SFC Stephens. Through grace, I was fortunate to commission in 2001 at the top of my class. She was right there in the front row- encouraging me.
I know God puts some people in our lives at pivotal points to offer us a choice about the future we will create. Sometimes we get it wrong and sometimes we get it right. Mrs. Land is the type of person who pushed others to get it right. The few times I have mentioned a version of this story to others in life, I describe Mrs. Land as the “mother of the bulldog battalion” -she was far more than any label or title could encompass. She genuinely loved and cared for all the kids who came to the Hill. I am and will remain- forever grateful to her for taking the time to teach a prideful boy about loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. We love you Mrs. Land and we are thankful for your generosity, inspiration, and compassion.
A precious, lifelong friend both in Elementary & High School!
She always baked amazing cakes to share at our HS luncheons at Cahoots 4x a year!
She will be missed terribly!
Prayers for her sweet family! 🙏
Sending healing prayers and comforting hugs to the family of JoAnn.I am sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry to hear about Jo Ann. We grew up as friends together living in same neighborhood. My thoughts and prayers for her Family. 🙏❤️
With love, Judy (Hambrick) Stafford