Mary Jo King

Mary Jo King, of Columbus, MS, passed away on March 23, 2026 in Waveland, MS. The visitation will be Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at First Christian Church in Columbus, MS. The memorial service will follow at 11:00 A.M. at the church with Pastor Lavelle Smith officiating. Lowndes Funeral Home entrusted with all arrangements.

Mrs. King was born on January 16, 1937 in Itta Bena, Mississippi to the late Joe Sebert Box and Mary Lucille Snyder Box. She graduated from MUW in 1959 with a degree in Elementary Education. She began her teaching career at Caledonia Elementary and then worked in many locations as she and her husband, Joe, traveled the world with the Air Force. Joe and Mary Jo lived in Germany, Libya, Spain, and many locations in the US before he retired and they returned to Columbus in 1977. She worked for many years as an Elementary School Teacher in Columbus Municipal School District before retiring in 1999. She has been a member of First Christian Church in Columbus for over 70 years.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. King is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years – Joseph Robert King and son – Steven Scott King.

She is survived by her daughter – Kathy (Ronnie) Good; grandchildren – Katelyn (Nick) Peters, Mary Katherine (Nate) Saint, Haley (Jared) Overby, and Steven (Celia) Good; great grandchildren – Andrew and Lincoln Peters, Caleb, Noah, Eden, and Micah Saint, Raelynn and Miles Overby, and Annie Good; brother - William Box and sister-in-law - Kay Box.

Honorary Pallbearers will be William Box, Ronnie Good, Nick Peters, Nate Saint, Jared Overby, Steven Good, Chuck Box, Mark Box, and the Deacons and Elders of First Christian Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to Gideons International, PO Box 2174, Columbus, MS 39704.