Betty "Jo" Cooper Graham, beloved and devoted wife, mother, grand- and great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, entered her heavenly home on June 4, 2025, from her earthly home in Raymond, MS. She had the opportunity to say her good-byes to all her family.

Jo was born on July 20, 1926, in Lipscomb, AL, as the fourth of five children to Elton John and Cleo Nester Cooper, yet was raised by her maternal grandparents following her mother's death when she was two years old. Her father later remarried and gave her eight more siblings with whom she remained connected. After graduating from Conehatta High School in 1943, she attended East Central Junior College where she learned secretarial skills, played basketball, and awaited the return of her high school sweetheart, Merle W. Graham, from his service in WWII.

Jo married Merle on August 17, 1947, at Conehatta Baptist Church and soon after they moved to the "big city" of Jackson, MS, where they lived and started their family before planting permanent roots in 1957 in Raymond, MS, on land where many family members still reside.

Jo spent some years driving door-to-door across central MS successfully encouraging families to invest in their children's education through World Book Encyclopedia and Childcraft. But the "job" in which she excelled was being a mother to her three daughters, Gloria, Pam, Melanie, and an honorary mother to so many others. Even during her 10 years of work in the Clinton Maintenance Office of the Highway Department she was "mothering," counseling, and witnessing to grown men.

Outside of her family, work, and service, she enjoyed visiting with friends and family, providing for her family in the kitchen and at the sewing machine, playing dominos, working crossword puzzles, gardening, and even shooting basketball with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren well into her 80s.

Although she lost and sometimes found many things in her daily existence, she never lost her faith in her Lord and Savior. She was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church at 1300 West Capitol Street from the day she joined in 1951 until her death. She was a powerful prayer warrior, surrounding each member of her family daily with her prayers. She walked with Jesus everyday and has been more than ready for quite a few years to run into HIS arms.

Her grandchildren think she was preceded in death by most "everybody" in her past, but we will acknowledge and name them: her loving husband of 67 years, Merle Graham (Grandaddy); parents, Elton and Cleo Cooper; son-in-law, David Harvey; and siblings, Ken Cooper, Carolyn Welcher, John Cooper, Lealus Cooper, Mary Jeanette Hawn, Claudine Gordon, Thelma Jowers, and Billie Jeansonne.

Jo is survived by her children, Gloria Harvey, Pam Smith (Carl), and Melanie Everett (Bill); grandchildren, Amanda Quarles (Jeremy), Jennifer Rogers (Chris), Christopher Smith (Kourtney), Ross Everett (Sarah), Joanna Everett, William Everett (Jenny), and Melissa Harvey; great-grandchildren, Graham and Cooper Quarles, Ellen and Gunner Rogers, Anniston and Lainey Everett, Liam Everett, and Lily Harvey; siblings, Sammie Durand, Joyce Lawrence, Martha Durand (Danny), and Robert Cooper (Sharon); sister-in law, Mrs. Lealus (Kay) Cooper; a faithful caretaker and friend, Felicia White; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Tuesday, June 10, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Wright and Ferguson in Clinton, MS. A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11, at Calvary Baptist Church, 1300 West Capitol St., Jackson, MS, with visitation at the church beforehand at 10:00 a.m. She will be laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery immediately following the service. The service will be live streamed at www.facebook.com/cbcjacksonms.

Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 1300 West Capital St, Jackson, MS 39203.