Mrs. Mary Jo Weaver

Mary Jo Weaver, 95, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at Shepherd's Cove Hospice. As an elementary school teacher, church musician, and loving mother, Mary Jo inspired many with her gifts for helping, uplifting, and nurturing others throughout her long life.

The daughter of Joe Kizzort and Meadie Belle Burgett, Mary Jo was born November 22, 1930, on a farm near Scant City. Moving to the mill village in Guntersville as a child, Mary Jo attended Victory Baptist Church and was the youngest church pianist there at age 7. During her teenage years she played with many local gospel quartets, and was well known by those who attended church and community singings during the 1940s.

She married Byron Weaver of Arab in 1951. The couple moved to Birmingham where she attended Howard College (now Samford University) to earn a teaching degree. She taught at Robinson Elementary in Birmingham's East Lake neighborhood for many years, and was fondly remembered by the many students who passed through her classroom. Returning to Guntersville in 1968, she taught briefly at Cherokee school before retiring. She returned to Victory Baptist as church pianist in the 1970s.

She is survived by her children, Edwin Weaver (Cynthia) of Babson Park, Florida, Kevin Weaver (Cathy) of Guntersville, along with grandchildren Meagan Smallwood (Cad), Matthew Weaver (Olivia), and John Michael Weaver, great grandchildren, Eloise Weaver, Everett Weaver, Alden Weaver, Millicent Weaver, and Roland Smallwood as well as all of Guntersville and Marshall County.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Byron Weaver, brother Bobby Kizzort, and sister, Nina Simpson.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Shepherd's Cove Hospice during a difficult time, and asks that donations to that facility be made in lieu of flowers.

Services will be held Saturday, December 13, at 12 p.m. at Victory Baptist Church in Guntersville, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m.

Pallbearers will be, Matthew Weaver, John Michael Weaver, Cad Smallwood, Rick Booth, Nathan Gober, and Scotty Pinson.