Jo Hamilton Holt

1927 - 2019

Jo Hamilton Holt

Bessemer, AL - Jo Hamilton Holt of Bessemer, Alabama passed away to her eternal life after an extended illness on Sunday, June 30 2019. She was 91 years old. Jo was born in Albany, Alabama on September 8, 1927 to Eustace Grady and Eleanor Sue Hamilton. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, Marshall Whitson Walker and LeRoy Lyon Holt and her younger brother, Allen Hamilton. Jo is survived by her two sons, Whit (Connie) and Allen (Shea) Walker, four grandchildren (Kyle, Ellie, Colin and Cameron Walker), four step-sons, Harry Owen Holt (Valerie), Bruce Lyon Holt, David LeRoy Holt (Christy), John Bestor Holt (Judy) and their respective children, Owen, Christopher, Andrew, LeRoy, Adam and Kara and five great-grandchildren, Payton, Logan, Ethan, Grayson and Landon.

Jo attended high school in Decatur, Alabama and graduated from Alabama College, State College for Women (now Montevallo University) in 1946. She served as a county extension agent and teacher for several years before she met and married her first husband, Marshall Whitson Walker from Huntsville, Alabama in 1954. They relocated to Anderson, South Carolina where Marshall worked in textile manufacturing management. The Walkers moved to Talladega, Alabama in 1980 before Marshall passed away in 1984. Jo then met and married her second husband, LeRoy Lyon Holt, MD of Bessemer, Alabama in 1987 and she joined him in his hometown where he had a long-standing and very successful Family Medicine practice. They were happily married for 28 years until LeRoy passed away in 2015. Jo was a very devout and active member of The First Presbyterian Church in Anderson, SC, The First Presbyterian Church in Talladega, AL and The First Presbyterian Church in Bessemer, AL. She was also instrumental in serving as a founding Charter Member of Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church in McCalla, Alabama. Throughout her life, she and her husbands were active in serving others in their church and in their respective communities by promoting educational opportunities for children and improving the lives of the less fortunate. In particular, Jo was a tremendous advocate for the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, Alabama. In her spare time, she loved to travel (47 foreign countries) read, entertain friends and play tennis and bridge.

Special thanks are extended to Owen Holt, his wife Julie and the Always Best Care Senior Service caretakers for all of their support during Jo's prolonged illness. Arrangements are as follows: Shepard of the Valley Presbyterian Church, 5081 Eastern Valley Rd, McCalla, Al 35111 on Monday, July 8, 2019. Visitation starts at 10:00am and funeral services will follow at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests considering a donation to The Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, AL or to a charity of your choice.