Jo Alice Blackwell Gray

Jo Alice was born in Mobile on September 29, 1939. She was raised in Semmes, AL by her parents, Bertha Blackwell a G, M & O railroad terminal operator and Clausell Blackwell a timber man and rural postman. They also owned the grocery store/gas station in Semmes.

Jo Alice attended Semmes school from 1st – 12th grade where she was Camellia Queen, Azalea Trail Maid and a Majorette. She was voted “Most Beautiful” her senior year. She was a member of many clubs and organizations like camera club and drama club as well as the Beta club and the Annual club.

Jo went on to college at then, Mississippi Southern. While there she would entertain the National Guard troops stationed at Camp Shelby by performing her baton routines, including a routine using fire batons. This was recognized with an article in the Hattiesburg paper.

On the steps of the women’s hall is where she met her future husband, Hollis L. Gray. They were married on August 29, 1959 in Semmes Baptist Church, the first event the newly built Church had.

Jo Alice went to work as a key punch operator for Courtaulds at Brookley Field in Mobile. While there she was asked to take a test for the startup field of computer programming. When the head of the new program saw her test and her name Jo, he thought he was hiring a man. Jo Alice was chosen as one of the first woman in a new and emerging field.

In 1963, she moved to Miami, FL with her family. She went to work for Wometco, a company that owned the CBS affiliate as well as Seaquarium. After staying there for a year she went to work for Eastern Airlines in their coveted computer department. Here she used her talent as a computer programmer in a time that the technology was so new that there were few people much less women in the field. Jo became a pioneer for women in a field dominated by men. Jo retired from Eastern in 1978.

Jo moved back to Mobile, AL after retiring. Back in Mobile she and her husband became co-owners in many local restaurants, The Marina, Hollisters, Shrimpy’s and Lakeside Lodge to name a few.

Jo was a generous and giving woman as evidenced by her time and devotion to her Churches and causes. She was a member first of Woodmont Baptist Church then currently of Springhill Baptist Church where she was active in her Sunday school class, Bible studies and volunteer work for the Haven of Hope house for addicted women.

Jo Alice is preceded in death by her Father Clausell Blackwell, her Mother Bertha (Nobles) Blackwell and her Brother Clausell Blackwell Jr.

She is survived by her loving Husband, Hollis Leo Gray, daughter Jacqueline (Gray) Pontious, son Hollis Leo Gray Jr. By her son in law Robert Lee Pontious, Granddaughters who she loved so much, Dawn (Pontious) Self and Erin (Pontious) Hovanec, their husbands James W. Self and Brian T. Hovanec. Jo Alice leaves one great granddaughter, Catherine Collins Self who we will constantly remind how much her “Jodie Jo” loved her.

She leaves behind many family and friends who love her, especially her truest and best friend Lena Miller.

Funeral services will be held from the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the service hour. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers please make donations in her name to Haven of Hope or American Cancer Society. Condolences may be offered at www.mmgfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 6040 Three Notch Road, Mobile, Alabama 36619.