Ms. Mary Jo Haynes, in her 71st season of life, was called home by the Master as He whispered “Well Done Good and Faithful Servant” on the evening of Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

Mary Jo was born May 29, 1952, in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Mary was the second of four daughters born to Elza and Rebecca (Warner) Haynes. A perspicacious student, Mary received her early education in the Ponca City School System. She attended Attucks Grade School, East Junior High School and graduated from Ponca City High School. Mary enrolled at Northern Oklahoma College where she received her associate degree and then matriculated to the University of Central Oklahoma where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology.

Upon returning to her hometown, Ponca City Mary gained employment with Conoco Inc where she displayed and gained insightful leadership and job skills. After twenty-five years of dedicated service Mary retired in 2003. Not one to sit idle, it wasn’t long before she began a second career working with the Ponca City School System making friends with the littles who all affectionately called her Ms. Mary. Additionally, her career encompassed working security at Phillips 66 with Allied Security Inc.

Mary loved her family, and they provided the greatest joys in her life, as did her church family at Connor Chapel, AME. Another enjoyment for Mary was reading. She was an avid reader of Christian books and literature. Mary was the very best at loving her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Reverend Elza Haynes, mother Rebecca Warner Haynes, a sister, Brenda Coffee DeShazer and brother-in-law Joe Del Coffee, one nephew, Daniel Coffee as well as her paternal and maternal grandparents.

Mary Jo leaves in Gods Care two sisters, Gwen (Chester) Anderson of Houston, TX, and Terri Ramirez of Ponca City; Four nieces, Kellie (Kenneth (KC) Lavergne, Houston, Tx, Traci (Don) Forest, Oklahoma City, OK, Courtney Haynes, Los Angeles, CA, and Aliyah Abington, Ponca City, Oklahoma; three nephews, Cameron (Cynthia) Anderson, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Benjamin (LeTeecia)Coffee, and Michael (Jennifer) Coffee, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 5 beloved great nephews and 3 great nieces, 5 uncles, 8 aunts as well as a host of cousins, friends, and colleagues.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 4, 2023, at New Life Baptist Church with Rev. Thomas Webb officiating, Interment will follow in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City, OK. Visitation will be held Sunday, December 3, 2023, in Grace Memorial Chapel of Ponca City from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Online condolences may be done at www.gracememorialchapel.net

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