Jo Ann Buckley

A lifelong Catholic, member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood, she was a devoted wife, mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Born April 6, 1935 in Milledgeville, Ga. she was the second of two children to John G. Prior & Mary O’Brien Prior. Jo Ann is preceded in death by her parents, and in 2005 by her loving husband of 63 years, Marion G. Buckley Jr. (Jerry), and her brother Jack Prior and his wife Catherine Prior.

Her parents saw to her Catholic faith foundation by membership at St Paul’s Cathedral and attending St Paul’s school. Jo Ann graduated in 1953 from Ramsey High in Birmingham.

She met the love of her life Jerry Buckley, he of West End fame, through mutual friends, and they married in February of 1963 at Blessed Sacrament Church.They moved to Homewood to raise their two boys, Wayne and John, where they thrived enjoying friends, social life, sports, and seeing their boys through Homewood High School.

She began her career at Ingalls Steel, then Jones & Armstrong Steel, finishing as a surgical office assistant for 12 years with Simon Williamson Clinic at Baptist Princeton.

Jo Ann thrived on and was dutifully attentive to her family, its roots, and her relationship with her aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Jo Ann was a loyal and helpful “team mom”, supporting her husband during his coaching career in West Homewood and her sons’ participation in various sports. This was her favorite hobby, one of her deepest joys; she never missed a game.

She was an active member of social sorority Beta Sigma Phi, and for 35 years worked with her club sisters to fundraise, support, and help those in need. Their projects reached those in the community who needed it the most, especially around Christmas. This was a life long enjoyment for her, of which she was very proud.

Jo Ann will always be in our back pocket, as we remember her love for all of us, and call on those memories when we need them the most.

She is survived by a loving a devoted family of two sons: Wayne G. Buckley and John Gerald Buckley (Kristina); her four grandchildren: Marti Buckley, Bryan Wayne Buckley, Katharine Lane Buckley and Payton Buckley and her three great- grandchildren: Buckley Kilpatrick, Lima Salas Buckley and Cy Augustine Milby.

The Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 am on Monday, December 15, 2025 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church with Father Kevin Bazzel officiating. The family will receive friends and fellowship immedicatley following the service in the Family Life Center.