Jo Ellen (Bell) Mercer

Jo Ellen (Bell) Mercer, age 79, of McDonough passed away from pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, December 18, 2018.

Jo was born in Brownwood, Texas to the late Arthur Jackson and Maurice “Reecie” Durham Bell. Graduating from Brownwood High School in 1958, she went on to receive her teaching certification in art and physical education from Howard Payne College, also in Brownwood. While in college, she served on the team that designed and created the horse reliefs on the exterior of the recently constructed Coliseum. She began her teaching career in San Antonio, Texas until 1963 when marriage brought Jo to her new home in McDonough where she resumed her teaching career in Jonesboro. After her first child was born, she left the classroom to raise her children and assist in running the family’s tractor dealership & equipment auction businesses.

Eventually, Jo returned to her first love – being an educator. She held both Master’s and Specialist’s degrees in Education and she cherished her career with the Henry County School system that spanned 2 decades. She poured herself into the students as mentor, counselor, disciplinarian, and friend. Jo served as sponsor of the cheerleading squads, time keeper at track meets, bus monitor on countless field trips and athletic events, and numerous other roles in support of both the student body and the faculty.

First Baptist Church of McDonough provided many years of faith and friendships, through singing in the choir, leading Sunday School classes, and chaperoning youth ski trips. Jo was also called to prison ministry, going behind the bars to listen to and counsel with women serving up to life sentences.

Jo didn’t slow down after she retired. Planning the annual Brownwood High School reunions every spring was a highlight of her year. She trained with the Stephen Ministries, a one-to-one lay caring ministry that supports pastoral care, most recently implementing the program in McDonough Presbyterian Church. No matter where she called home, she quickly became active within the community serving in many capacities for civic, government and nonprofit projects that benefited the world around her.

Over the years, she enjoyed shoe shopping, white water rafting, hosting guests in her mountain home, and her recent passions included traveling to places far and wide as well as simply spending time with her grandchildren. Jo’s friends will treasure the memory of her quick sense of humor, her great laugh and her unique ability to draw people to her.

Jo is survived by her children, Jay (Kassie) Mercer and Ellen Mercer (Bert) Foster; grandchildren, Ellie Mercer, Jamie Ann Mercer, Callan Foster, and Alex Foster; sister, Patricia Bell (Roger) Parker and nephew, Mike (Meghan) Parker of Baird, TX; and dear friend, Tom Mitchell, of Morganton, GA.

A memorial service for Jo Ellen Bell Mercer, 79, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at First Baptist Church of Brownwood, followed by visitation with her family in the fellowship hall. Services are under the direction of Parker Funeral Home of Baird.

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