Josephine "Jo" Rita Vandevender

Funeral service for Josephine "Jo" VanDevender will be held Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul Episcopal Church with The Reverend Austin McGehee officiating. Burial to follow in Magnolia Cemetery. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.

Josephine "Jo" VanDevender died peacefully at home at the age of 102. Born into a large family in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, she was the eldest child of Josephine Boardman Olson and Carl Olson.

Jo was a graduate of Louisiana State University and held a Master's degree from University of West Alabama. She began her career at the Tulane School of Social Work in New Orleans. She worked at East Mississippi State Hospital, was in private family counseling practice, and ended her career in administration in the Lauderdale County School System.

Jo was the president and past queen of the Junior Auxiliary of Meridian. She loved fishing at Timber Lake, where she had a cabin, and in the Louisiana Marshes, where she caught more fish than anyone else. She made a wonderful gumbo and black-bottom pie, and was one of the last two of Northwood Country Club's Whiskey Widows.

Jo was a joyful extrovert who loved parties and her friends. Her home was always filled with good cheer. She was also a good listener, and her advice was tempered and wise. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church for over seventy-five years. She was the second woman to serve on the vestry of St. Paul's. Jo lived a full and energetic life until very near the end. She was greatly loved and will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her son, Dr. Karl VanDevender (Ann) of Nashville, Tennessee, daughter Nancy Josephine VanDevender (Steve Ferguson) of Meridian, and son Michael VanDevender of Meridian. Her grandchildren are Josephine Ward (Giles) of Nashville, Cecil VanDevender (Lauren) of Washington, D.C., Dr. Lincoln Ferguson (Jason Marburg) of Brooklyn, New York, and Langdon Ferguson of Los Angeles, California. She had three great grandchildren, Hugo Ward, Cecil Ward, and Rosalind Marburg.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Frank VanDevender, her sister, Lillian Baxter, and her brother, William Olson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church prior to the service.