Betty Jo Ann Langham

Betty Jo Ann Langham, age 90, and a resident of Fairhope, Alabama passed away on November 8, 2024 at The Retreat in Mobile, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Floyd and Annie Pearl Langham, her brother-in-law, Ray Glen Gibson and her nephews, Christopher and Stephen Glen Gibson. She is survived by her sisters, Blanche Gibson Wise and Floy Watley (Walter), her niece, Gay Gibson, her nephews, Kevin MacLeod, Jody and Jeffrey McLeod and Theron Watley; her great nieces, Ashlyn Quinn Pierce and Hannah MacLeod; her great nephews, Cody Lee Pierce (Jillian), Iain and David MacLeod and Dakota Miller, her great, great nephews Walter Riggs Pierce and Ryker Knox Kidd along with other family members. 

Jo Ann was born on January 8, 1934 at home in Enterprise, Alabama and after beginning school there the family moved back to Mobile, AL and she attended Murphy High School where she graduated in 1951. Shortly after graduating, she began her career as a bookkeeper at Mobile (BLP) Paint where she worked as their bookkeeper for forty-five (45) years upon retirement. She then became a resident of Fairhope, Alabama and became a member of First Baptist Church where she worked with the Children’s Ministry along with serving meals on Wednesday night. Although Jo Ann had no children of her own, she devoted her service to the Children’s Ministries beginning back in her own youth at Goodman Baptist Church in Enterprise then to Oakdale Baptist Church and transitioned to Government Street Baptist. She was honored by The Southern Baptist Convention in 2017 for her continuous service with the Children’s Ministry at all of these churches. There is not a child at First Baptist who didn’t know “Ms. Jo Ann” and didn’t stop to see her and give her a hug even after they had grown up and began having children of their own. Joann was also a long-time member of the business sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, where she made life-long friends many of whom she considered to be part of her family! She also was a life-long fan of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide…..Roll Tide!! 

Jo Ann was born with a servant’s heart and loved doing for others more than she wanted anyone doing for her and our family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers, support and love during this most difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that any donations be made in her honor to be used for the Children’s Ministry programs at First Baptist Church, Fairhope, Alabama 36532 or to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250.

http://www.firstfairhope.org/give   (then choose the Kids Ministry) 

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 3:00 pm in the chapel of Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope. The family will begin receiving family and friends at 2:00 p.m. and a graveside service will follow at Fairhope Memory Gardens.