Bernie Jo Mayo, 99, of Greenville died Monday, June 1, 2009 at Briarcliff Nursing Home. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Thursday at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Greenville under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. Rev. Eddie Smith and Rev. Kevin Herbert will officiate with burial at Memoryland Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.
Born December 17, 1909 in Hunt County, she was the daughter of William Oliver and Lora Pickel Echols. She and Charles Reuben Mayo were married November 17, 1928 in Greenville; a marriage that lasted 72 years until his death in 2001. Mrs. Mayo was a homemaker, a wonderful Mother, Grandmother, and Great-grandmother. She was Aunt Jo to many loved nieces and nephews.
She was a charter member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church serving her Lord as a faithful Sunday School teacher for many years, president of Woman’s Missionary Union for both the church and for Hunt Baptist Association, church hostess, and a faithful choir member. One of her most cherished areas of service was going to Falls Creek Youth Encampment to cook for the youth for over 25 years. She was active in PTA, book clubs, and other activities in the community.
Surviving are her sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Gloria Mayo and Larry and Donna Mayo of Greenville; grandchildren, George Mayo and wife Christine of Conway, Arkansas, Marjo Arnold and husband, Terry of Hurst, Steve Mayo and wife Karen of Greenville, Lynn Hoffman and husband Eric of Richardson, David Mayo of Campbell, Jamie Barborak and husband Jason of Greenville. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Alton Echols and Wilburn O. Echols and sisters Delma Echols and Madeline Smith.
Pallbearers will be grandsons.
