Jo Ann “Jodie” Christian- Davis, 83, Mauriceville, Texas

Jo Ann “Jodie” Christian- Davis, 83, of Mauriceville, Texas peacefully joined her Heavenly Father on Wednesday June 28, 2017, at her daughter’s home surrounded by family, love, and laughter.

A Celebration of her life will be Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at 2 o’clock p.m., at First Baptist Church of

Mauriceville in conjunction with Silver Oaks Baptist Church under the direction of both Brother Kevin Brown and Brother Ed Rawls.

Visitation will also be at First Baptist Church Mauriceville, Wednesday, July 5, 2017 from 1-2 o’clock p.m. Jodie’s body has been donated per her wishes to Baylor Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology in Houston, Texas, so there will not be a graveside service. Her ashes will be placed with her first husband, Kenneth “Dale” Christian at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Bridge City, Texas at a later date.

She was born October 18, 1933 in Port Arthur, Texas to Joseph Theodore Dailey and Anna Mae Morton. She spent her childhood on her family’s dairy farm, Dailey’s Dairy, where she was featured as the baby on the milk bottles. Jodie graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1952 then went on to attend business college. She worked as a secretary for a title company and other local businesses, and later as a cake decorator.

Jodie moved to Mauriceville in the early 1960’s with her husband, Kenneth “Dale” Christian.

They started a family and quickly became rooted in the community.

They served God faithfully through First Baptist Church where Jodie worked in the office, nursery, day care program, children’s programs, and mission’s programs.

Jodie was actively involved in her children’s academic life as well as their extracurricular activities.

She was awarded a Lifetime Membership to the Mauriceville PTA, she served as a leader and chairperson of the Dusty Trails 4-H Club.

She spent countless hours on wooden bleachers, medal stadium seats, lawn chairs, smelly gyms, school theater chairs; cheering on her “kiddos” in sports, rodeos, band, choir concerts…

She was a board member of Orange Christian Services, an active member of the Red Hat Society, Senior Choice Club, Senior Group for both Silver Oaks and First Baptist of Mauriceville. After raising her family with Dale; God called Jodie and Joe to be an instrumental part of the growing congregation of Silver Oaks Baptist Church. She served alongside members of both church families until she physically could no longer do so.

She loved to travel and was very proud to have traveled to 49 US states in her RV; her favorites being South Dakota, Wyoming, and Texas. One of her most wonderful adventures was traveling on a Christian Tour to the Holy Land; she loved telling anyone who would listen about that special trip.

Jodie continued to serve anywhere she could up until her death. Only a few months ago she could be found alongside her daughter and great granddaughter volunteering with the 4-H group teaching sewing and cooking.

She spent her whole life loving and serving her Lord, her family, her friends, and her community.

Jodie was welcomed to her heavenly home by her parents; her husbands, Kenneth “Dale” Christian, George White, and James “Joe” Davis; brothers, Fred Dailey and Theodore “Ted” Dailey, and granddaughter Ashley Christian.

She is survived by her children; Rebecca “Becky” and husband Ronnie Webb of Mauriceville,

Charlene and husband Don Olson of Beaumont, Brenda Willette of Mauriceville, Alvin “AJ” and wife Dana Christian of Mauriceville, and Dalena and husband James Pickett of Kirbyville; grandchildren; Tricia and husband Jeff Longlois of Orange, Donna Buchanan of Austin, Megan and husband Trey Peveto of Bridge City, Edmon Willette of Mauriceville, Christa Pickett of Kirbyville, and Kenneth Pickett of Kirbyville, Bronson Christian of Mauriceville; great grandchildren, Julianne, Chrisleigh, and Jacob

Longlois of Orange, Katelyn Runnels of Mauriceville; sister, Lola and husband James Smith of Kentucky; sister-in-law, Glenda “Ellen” Dailey of Deweyville; and numerous nieces and nephews that she loved as her own; along with numerous other extended family members and community loved ones that also called her as “Mom” and “Grandma”.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her name to: American Cancer

Society, P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123; East Texas Baptist Encampment 178 Prv. Rd

7005 Newton, TX 75966; Orange Christian Services 2518 W. Park Ave. Orange, TX 78730; First

Baptist Church of Mauriceville Library or Building Fund 11540 Hwy 12 Orange, TX 78732; Silver Oaks Baptist Church Library or Building Fund 16460 FM 1442 Orange, TX 78732; or to a nonprofit of your choice.