Betty Joann Towsend age 81 of Etowah, TN passed away Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Etowah Healthcare. Joann was a member of Grace Baptist Church. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an Elvis fan from way back and she wouldn't miss a "Matt Cordell Show" for nothing! Her favorite color was purple and if you knew her, then you knew she was always known as the "purple lady." Joann loved being outside with her chickens, cats and dogs. She was the daughter of the late Floyd and Georgia Jones Marquis. Joann was preceded in death by her husband Cecil Townsend, grandchildren Travis Woody and Tom Prosser III, brother Billy Gene Marquis, and sister Shirley Marquis Buxton.

Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law Linda and Tom Prosser, Sandy Buckner, Cecelia Kay and Randy Woody, all of Etowah; grandchildren Melanie and Travis Nichols of Etowah, Jenny and Chuck Starritt of Sevierville, Christopher Wells of Etowah, Mitchell Buckner of Riceville, Stephanie and Matthew Riffey of Corrington, TN, Nick Prosser of Asheville, NC, Gracie and Andrew Strickland of Milledgeville, GA; sisters-in-law Kathy and Phillip Kaarh of Collinsville, MS, Irene and Buddy Kisner of Indianola, MS, Margaret Ann and Steve Criswell of MS, Betty Warren of MS; brothers-in-law Jerel and Bonnie Townsend of Pensacola, FL, Marlow and Flo Wells of Sardis, MS. Joann will be sadly missed by lots of family and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 in the South Chapel of Bordwine Funeral Home with Pastor Donald B. Harris Officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday April 29th at the funeral home. Family and friends will proceed to Green Hill Cemetery for the committal service Wednesday following the funeral service.