Amy Jo deRoode

In Loving Memory of Amy Jo deRoode August 21, 1961 – April 19, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Amy Jo deRoode share that she was called home to Heaven on Easter Eve, April 19, 2025, at 63 years young. She passed peacefully in Woodbridge, Virginia, surrounded by immense love and support as she made her way to her eternal resting place.

Amy Jo was born on August 21, 1961, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the third daughter of Amy Elizabeth Smith and Granville Humphury deRoode.

Only six months before her passing, Amy was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer that had metastasized to her brain. She faced this diagnosis with unwavering dignity, courage, and an unshakable hope. In a testament to her strength, she moved from Nevada back to her roots in Virginia to be closer to her only child and her grandchildren. With incredible bravery, she pursued every possible treatment—including a craniotomy and radiation therapy—with one steadfast goal in mind: to meet her third grandchild. And she did.

Through it all, Amy Jo remained lighthearted and full of humor, touching the lives of everyone around her. Her selflessness, love, and resilient spirit were nothing short of inspiring. She was a living reminder of the strength that hope, laughter, and love can bring even in life’s hardest moments.

Amy Jo was the kind of woman who found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She loved nothing more than relaxing on the deck with the sun warming her face, a cold beer in her hand, and a steak sizzling on the grill. Family was everything to her, and she cherished every moment spent in their presence—whether watching scary movies by the light of a fire or just enjoying each other’s company in peaceful stillness.

The scent of lavender, vanilla, and soft tobacco will forever remind us of her presence—warm, grounding, and unforgettable. She adored roses and found deep beauty in the garden, never afraid to get her hands dirty. To her, digging in the dirt wasn’t just gardening—it was a kind of therapy, a connection to something bigger, something real.

Amy Jo is survived by her beloved sisters and lifelong best friends, Donna Grace deRoode-McCartin and Diane Emily deRoode; her cherished daughter and only child, Ashley Grace Reid, whom she always called her greatest gift in the world; and her grandchildren, who brought her endless joy.

Although she was stubborn and determined to stay on this Earth as long as she could, God gently called her home. And while we are heartbroken, we are comforted knowing that she is now reunited with her mommy and daddy, loved ones, and her beloved dogs in Heaven. She has stepped into her new role as our Guardian Angel.

Amy Jo was the life of every party—radiating warmth, joy, and a genuine sense of welcome to all who knew her. She had a knack for turning everyday moments into special memories, simply by being herself.

In honoring Amy Jo’s wishes, her family invites all who knew her to celebrate her life with stories, music, laughter, good food, and either a strong drink or a classic Coke. Celebrate her in the way she lived—with joy, honesty, and love.