Josephine J. “Jo” Fannin was born in Huntington on February 12, 1944. She attended Monroe Elementary, West Junior High and Huntington High School. She is married to Michael Fannin and they have one daughter, Michelle Rene'. At the age of 45, she returned to school to earn her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.
Her career started in banking in St. Louis and Philadelphia for Commerce Bank and Central Penn National Bank. While traveling the world for her husband's career, she was introduced to the volunteer portion of her life. While in Yuma, Arizona, she was hired by the National Retired Senior Volunteer Program and served as volunteer coordinator for the State of Arizona.
Fannin returned to Huntington in 1999.
She was approached with an opportunity to be the fundraiser and overseer of the planned Hospitality House of Huntington. She became the executive director, fundraiser, house manager and volunteer coordinator. After the death of co-founder Dr. Jeffrey George, the future of the house was uncertain. In 2009, Fannin realized a lifelong dream of becoming a volunteer at $1 per year and continued as president and chief executive officer alongside two dozen other volunteers. She served at the Hospitality House virtually seven days a week, often working 70-plus hours and was on-call during the evening hours.
Fannin's affiliations and awards included business and professional women's clubs, Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Award, Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Service Award, Who's Who in American Women in 1995, Who's Who in Executive and Professionals 2003, and Who's Who in Finance and Industry 2004. She served on the City of Huntington Foundation Board, Rotary Club of Huntington, Home Healthcare Outreach Board and was scholarship Chairwoman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals for the West Virginia Chapter.
