Charity Jolynn "Jo" Gibson

Charity Jolynn "Jo" Gibson entered into the eternal care of her Heavenly Father on June 30, 2025, at the age of 85. She was born March 5, 1940, in Louin, Mississippi, to the late Herbert and Charity Ishee.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Herbert "Hot" (Barbara) Ishee, Lucian (Fay) Ishee, Anna (Robert) Smith, Roger (Doris) Ishee, Wilford "Red" Ishee, Zel Ishee, and infant brother, Kenneth Jefferson Ishee.

She is survived by her children, Jerri (Chris) Serman and Joseph Gibson, Sr.; grandchildren, Amber (Davey) Lyon, Joseph (Shelby) Gibson, Jr., Melissa Gibson, Syra Gibson; and great-grandchildren, David Lyon IV, Sawyer Lyon, Grace Lyon, and Hunter Gibson; sister-in-law, Chris Ishee; and a host of nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren.

Jo was the youngest in her family and the best at telling stories of a life filled with simple pleasures and the antics of her siblings. She was born a caretaker, so it was no surprise when she chose nursing as a career. It was a proud moment for her when she graduated from South Mississippi Charity Hospital's RN program in Laurel, Mississippi, in 1960. "Nurse Jo" had a long career as she served in hospitals in Laurel, Mississippi; Butler, Alabama; and Selma, Alabama. She moved to industrial nursing at the lock plant and Hammermill Paper Company in Selma, Alabama. Her happiest years were at the mill, where she cared for the employees and their families. After several decades there, she went on to home health care and finished her career at the age of 72 as a hospice nurse.

As much as she loved nursing, she loved her family so much more! She raised two children as a single mother and sacrificed to do so. Mama was a title she adored, but not as much as Memaw. Adventures, stories, shopping trips, and lots of love were showered on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was "Mama Jo" to the neighborhood children she was honored to love and nurture. Her greatest pleasure was time spent with family and friends. Jo served with Scouts and assisted countless scouts with achieving their First Aid and Emergency Preparedness merit badges on the path to Eagle Scout. She loved all things Alabama Crimson Tide. Listening to music was always a favorite pastime, especially as her eyesight declined.

Funeral services will be Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home at Pineview in Valley Grande with Pastor Davey Lyon officiating. Interment will follow at Pineview Memory Gardens. The family will begin receiving friends at the funeral home at 12:00 p.m., prior to the service.

Pallbearers will be Joseph Gibson, Jr., Ronnie Odom, Matt Ishee, Oliver Lawrence, Adam Brady, and Austin Smith.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Cedar Hill, Lighthouse Nursing Home, and Amedisys Hospice for the outstanding care she received, as well as Dr. Jack Burns.

In lieu of flowers, you may consider making memorial donations to Imago Dei Church in Lowndes County, where her granddaughter, Amber, and her husband, Pastor Davey Lyon, serve: P.O. Box 54, Lowndesboro, Alabama 36752.