Jo Ann Jackson, 91, of Garland, peacefully passed away at her home on November 17, 2024 surrounded by loved ones. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Memoryland Memorial Park with Dr. James Ralson officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m., at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.
Jo was born in Idalou, Texas on June 19, 1933, to Leonard and Meda Mayner Humphries. She married James Edwin Jackson on June 26, 1953, in Dallas, Texas. Although she was born in West Texas, she spent most of her youth in the Greenville area raised on her parents’ 67-acre farm. She and her brother helped with planting, weeding, harvesting crops, and picking cotton in addition to other chores. These efforts gave her a hardiness, an inner strength, and work ethic that carried her throughout her entire life. She often told stories of how everyone working in the cotton patch would carry a spoon in their pocket. As they were picking cotton, they would come upon ”slips” where the cotton had not grown and her dad had planted watermelon. They would cut one open and enjoy it right there in the field.
Due to the cotton harvest, Jo often missed many school days at the beginning of the year. However, she loved learning and went on to become the Valedictorian of her Senior class. She learned to sew from her mother and became an excellent seamstress. Later she would go on to create one-of-a-kind clothing for her daughters throughout their school years and even created a complete business suit for her husband.
She had a knack for bookkeeping and ran the payroll for Monkey Grip Rubber Company as well as being active in her community serving as PTA room mother and Camp Fire leader.
Jo was very physically active in her life. In high school she was a star basketball player, she enjoyed waterskiing with her family, playing softball, volleyball, and yardwork. She sewed quilts and crocheted afghan blankets for both of her daughters and others. Jim and Jo took their daughters all across the country camping first in a tent then progressing to a tent trailer, a cab-over camper, a motor home, and then eventually to an RV in their retirement. Many memories were made singing, exploring, and sightseeing. In her later years, she embraced technology often spending hours playing strategic computer games to keep her brain sharp and young.
Jo and Jim were married just shy of 71 years when Jim passed on May 7th, 2024. Their marriage was an inspiring example of love and compromise. Jo was raised in the Church of Christ and shared her faith with her daughters.
Jo is survived by her daughters, Shelley Townsley and husband, Rodney, Nanette Freeman and husband, David, grandson, Reece Townsley, granddaughter, Becca Costilla and husband Daniel and their children DC and Bianca.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Jimmy Humphries.
