Josephine “Jo” Compton Sells, 96, of Statesville, N.C., passed away Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the Gordon Hospice House after an extended illness.

Mrs. Sells was born November 13, 1926, in Iredell County. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Blaine Compton and Mozelle Lippard Compton. Jo was a graduate of Celeste Henkel High School, where she was a member of the basketball team. She attended Mitchell Community College and received her associate degree. Jo and her husband Hack owned and operated Sells Moving and Storage, which they started in 1961. She was a faithful member of Western Avenue Baptist Church and later Concord Presbyterian Church. At Concord, Jo was an Elder and served on numerous committees, she was a member of the ABWA, and the past president of the North Carolina Movers Association. Jo was married to her beloved husband Haskell Sells from 1943 until his passing in 2002. Jo loved reading, traveling with Hack, visiting with family, and spoiling her grandchildren.

Along with her husband and parents, Jo was preceded in death by her 11 brothers and sisters, and her son-in-law, Alan Burgin.

Those left to cherish the memory of Jo Sells include her son Haskell L. Sells II and wife Joyce, her son, William C. Sells, her daughter, Dru Burgin, her grandsons, Colt Burgin and Ryder Burgin, and her granddaughter, Dorothy Sells.

A funeral service will be conducted for Mrs. Sells at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Concord Presbyterian Church. The family will greet friends at the church on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the funeral service.

The family extends their sincere thanks to Jo’s caregiver Kim Moore.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorials be given to Concord Presbyterian Church, 3867 Taylorsville Hwy., Statesville, NC 28625.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.