Mary Jo Looser

Mary Jo Poe Looser, 89, went to meet her Lord and Savior August 8th, 2025. Although most of the world knew her as Mary Jo, as a grandmother, she refused to be called Granny or Maw Maw because she wanted something more “dignified.” Her first choice was to be called, Mumsy. As she tried to teach that name to her first grandchild, Trey, he looked at her and simply said, “Bubba”. She remained “Bubba” to 6 grandchildren, her family and close friends for the past 35 years.

Mary Jo was born in Brownville, Alabama on December 9, 1936. She was a member of the Tuscaloosa County High Class of 1954, where she was editor of the school newspaper. She followed her love of writing to the University of Alabama where she would become the first member of her family to earn a college degree. With a degree in journalism in hand, she set out for her first job as a reporter and eventually, assistant state editor, at Alabama’s most prestigious newspaper, The Montgomery Advertiser in Montgomery Alabama.

It was at that newsroom where another young reporter walked over and sat on her desk and said, “hey beautiful, where have you been all my life.” That one line set in motion a love story that would last 53 years with her husband, Dick Looser.

It was only after all three children were in school that she decided to return to the working world on a part-time basis. She wrote book reviews for the nationally acclaimed publication, Antique Monthly, worked as a volunteer advisor for student publications at Stillman College and worked as a grant writer to secure money for public health organization. She eventually put her vast knowledge of public health to work full time at West Alabama Health Council and finished her career in a leadership role at the Tuscaloosa County Health Department.

Her most cherished accomplishment wasn’t in the professional arena. Mary Jo was recently featured in an article in the The Alabama Baptist Magazine highlighting her 60 consecutive years teaching Sunday school at Five Points Baptist Church. She taught children, youth and college and careers during the first 30 years and the Grace Women's class for the past 30 years.

Mary Jo was an advocate for those who had no one else to fight for their basic human rights, their healthcare and especially prenatal care. As a woman, she made her views known in the boardroom before it was popular or even tolerated. From CEO’s to University President’s to Pastor’s within her church, she spoke truth to power in her sweetest possible, “bless your heart voice.”

As an Alabama graduate, married to an Auburn graduate, there were a few Saturday’s when silence was a better strategy than gloating. The real rivalry was reserved for their Scrabble games that were played every afternoon in retirement, for over 20 years. As grandparents, they instilled the love of the game to their grandchildren during numerous yearly vacations to their favorite spot, Highlands, North Carolina…One of many places they loved as they traveled the world together.

A prolific writer, Mary Jo wrote newspaper stories, management plans, book reviews, government grants and public health policy as her profession. For friends and family, she wrote letters of recommendation, college entrance essays, church history books and a few term papers to assure one particular child of hers would graduate from Alabama. Most impressively, she completed the New York Times crossword puzzle - every day – in ink.

If she’d been able to read this before it was published, there is no doubt that a red pen would’ve noted numerous grammatical errors and alternative word suggestions, as well as making a few changes as a fact checker.

She touched lives and made a difference … while staying sassy till the end.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard W. “Dick” Looser, her parents, Curby and Estelle Poe; brother, Johnny Poe; sister-in-law Audrey Poe and brother-in-law Buddy Thompson.

Survivors include her daughters, Melanie Miller of Statesboro GA and Mary Norwood (Rusty) of Northport; son, Richard W. "Rick" Looser, Jr. (Liza) of Brandon, Miss.; grandchildren, Trey and Hannah Norwood of Northport; Richard W. "Tripp" Looser III (Elizabeth) of Oxford, Miss,; Regan Looser of West Hollywood, CA and Jordan and McKayla Miller of Statesboro GA; sister-in-laws, Mae Thompson and Helen Adams of LaFayette and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be, Jack Gibson, Harry Goodall Jr., Doug Holder, Mark Poe, Paul Wilson and Reggie Mitchell.

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Phillip and Beth Bobo, Kaye Mitchell, Lanetta Crowe, LuLu Coulter, Cathy Goodall, Dr. Julia Weeks, Scott Goodall, Paige Goodall, Barbara Fields, Tonya Patterson, Agnes Freeman, Allison Freeman, Angela Bale, Debbie Riley, Kathy Hollingshead, Sharon Stone, Dr. Arti Pandey, Renae Wilson, Renee McKnight, Cindy Norwood, Mary Ann Moody, Donna Elliott, Martha Goodwin, Aveanna Home Health, members of Five Points Baptist Church, Grace Sunday School Class and nurses and staff of Hospice of West Alabama.

Five Points Baptist Church, 3718 38th Street, Northport, AL, will host both the visitation and funeral service – Directed by Sunset Funeral Home.

Visitation will be held Monday, August 11 from 6 – 8 pm at Five Points Baptist Church. The funeral service will be Tuesday August 12th at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour prior at 10:00 a.m at Five Points Baptist Church. Graveside services will follow in Sunset Memorial Park .