Mary Jo Criddle

Okolona- Miss Mary Jo Criddle transformed her earthly home for her eternal home on Saturday evening, August 2, 2025 from North Miss. Medical Center, after a brief period of declining health. She was 86. Born on January 1, 1939 in Chickasaw County to the late Aaron Elbert Criddle and Minnie Vic Gann Criddle, Mary Jo graduated from Okolona High School. She chose nursing as a profession and after completing her training and dedicated her life to caring for others. She worked as a nurse at Okolona Community Hospital for 40 years. Her compassion and commitment to her patients left a lasting impact on everyone she cared for. After retiring, she devoted her time to caring for her mother, showing the same love and dedication she gave to her patients. Outside of her career, Mary found joy in life's simple pleasures. A strong but quiet independent soul, she loved working on jigsaw puzzles, watching The Price is Right, and spending peaceful moments feeding and watching her hummingbirds. A Methodist, her gentle spirit and warm heart will be missed by all who knew her. Service will be held at 11:30 AM Tuesday, August 5, 2025 in the Okolona Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with Mr. Brad Clayton officiating. Burial will follow in the Macedonia Cemetery off Hwy 8. Visitation will begin at 10 AM Tuesday morning at Holland, Okolona Chapel, which is honored to be serving their friends. Mary is survived by her beloved caregivers and nieces, Teresa (Jon) Tartt of Okolona and Shelia (Roy) Barnett of Oxford and nephews, Bill (Marilee) Criddle, David Criddle, and Aaron Criddle, all of Illinois; Johnny Criddle of Texas, Frankie Clay and Michael (Stacey) Clay of Alabama. She is survived by a special great niece and great nephew Anna Barnett of Oxford, Billy (Rachael) Criddle of Illinois and a special friend Donnis Tooke of Verona and a number of others great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, father and brothers, William Criddle, Wayne Criddle , James Criddle and her sister, Shirley Clay, and sisters-in-law, Ellen Criddle and Dolores Criddle. Condolences may be posted on the Criddle obituary page at hollandfuneraldirector.com.