Mary Jo Sykes Jones

Mary Jo was born in Montgomery, AL to William and Juliet Sykes.  She graduated from Robert E Lee High School where she was a majorette.  Upon graduation her mother asked her if she would like to use her college fund to marry her fiancé Bobby (Robert Jones), or go to college.  It was an easy decision, they were married in a beautiful wedding at Capital Heights Baptist Church.  They remained happily married for 63 years until Bobby’s passing in 2020.

Mary Jo is survived by her son Robert Steven, her brother Parker Sykes, and her daughter-in-law Laura Jones.  She was preceded in death by her husband Bobby and son Kenneth.  Her two sons considered her the best of the best: “Mom was the best mom anybody could have, was a great cook, took us everywhere, and did it all and then some.”

She followed Bobby in his career moves with AT&T over his 30 year career.  It brought them to Clarkston, GA where they made a permanent home.  Mary Jo would occasionally substitute teach at Jolly Elementary School near their home.  At one point Steve’s 5^th grade teacher asked her if she might be interested in selling real estate.  That started a successful career with Pam and Sandy Saunders’ ERA Towne Square Realty Company where she excelled and was recognized over the years with several special awards.

Bobby and Mary Jo made a decision in 1996 to move to a golfing/water access community in Pass Christian, MS where some of their really close friends had previously moved for retirement.  They remained in Pass Christian until returning to the Atlanta area in 2020 to be closer to their two sons.  Over their long tenure in PC they thrived.  Mary Jo was an avid golfer, bridge player, gardener, homemaker, and even went back to work part time as a realtor for Coldwell Banker in Gulfport.  Her social skills were a great fit for numerous community/area activities including the Timber Ridge Women’s Club, the Pass Christian Isles Women’s Golf Club, Pass Christian Garden Club, Daughters of American Revolution, and the Pass Christian Yacht Club Women’s Auxiliary.  She was active in all of these endeavors and served as the president of several over the years.    Mary Jo attended Trinity Episcopal Church.  To give back to the community Mary Jo volunteered by tutoring children through the local Boys/Girls Club.

Hurricane Katrina was a big setback.  Their home was substantially damaged and living in a FEMA trailer in the driveway for months while the rebuilding work was underway was no fun.  Luckily son Steve had the construction skills to oversee and perform the majority of the work required over a years’ time to rebuild.  Son Kenneth also traveled down to help with the initial cleanup for several weeks before returning to his wife/home/job in the Atlanta area.  It was very traumatic for Mary Jo to lose so many of her life’s possessions, many of them inherited from her mother and aunts.  But, once Mary Jo and Bobby moved back in they continued their retirement activities uninterrupted.

Mary Jo had been a recent resident of Atria Park of Tucker assisted living for just three months before she was hospitalized.  Prior to this she was a resident at the Cottages of Noble Village for two years.  She made friends at both locations and was close to her caregivers that supported her while at Noble Village.

She will be sorely missed by family and friends.  No service is planned.  If you would like to donate in Mary Jo’s name please do so to the American Lung Association.