Mary Jo Gerald

Mary Jo Gerald, affectionately known as “Mama Jo”, 71, of Nederland, Texas passed away Sunday, August 13, 2023. Mary was born on November 18, 1951 in Kirbyville, Texas to Robert and Lucille Gerald.
Mary got her title of Mama Jo when her daughter Diana was in Jr. High. Mary was the Kool-Aid mom in the neighborhood, and all the kiddos hung out at their house. Not wanting to be disrespectful and call her by her first name, this wild bunch began calling her Mama Jo. She cherished that praise and said whenever she became a grandmother, she wanted to go by that name. Now even her own grandchildren’s friends know her affectionally by that moniker.
Mary was a loving mother, grandmother and sister. In her prime years, she loved going to garage sales with her sisters, even though it sometimes could be quite competitive! She worked at numerous different jobs, from school secretary, to bartender, to apartment manager. Mama Jo loved music, especially the Eagles and Foreigner and was a Netflix and HBO addict with some of her favorites being Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey. She enjoyed gardening, playing “Webkinz” and gossiping with her great nephew on the phone! Mary loved her family, but absolutely adored her grand pups, Buddy and Ollie, who were her companions. She loved her whole family dearly. Some days they would all be best friends and some days they would bicker until the sun went down but she always cherished the good memories. She loved Jesus and loved the Bible. She always told people, “I can’t do much, but I can pray!”
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Lee Gerald and Mary Lucille (Sheffield) Gerald; and brother, Robert “Bubba” Gerald, along with other precious friends and family members.
Those left to cherish Mary’s memory are her beloved only daughter, Diana Mitchell Meredith and her husband, Chris, who Diana always joked was her favorite, of Nederland; grandchildren, Hannah Meredith and Brennan Meredith who she loved to the moon and back; sisters, Rose “Toodle” Lummus and Rachel Gilbert; brother, Billy Gerald and his wife, Julie; and a host of nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved and wished she could have seen more had they lived closer.
Mama Jo always wanted this explanation from Lord of The Rings as a remembrance for her...
Pippin “I didn't think it would end this way.”
Gandalf “End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path. One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... then you see it! White shores... and beyond. A far green country, under a swift sunrise...”
A gathering of family and friends will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., with a Celebration of Mary's Life to begin at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Melancon Funeral Home in Nederland.
In lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions in honor of Mary Jo Gerald may be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908.