Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Jo O'Keefe will be on Monday, May 20, 2019, at Brookhaven Funeral Home in (894 Natchez Drive) Brookhaven, MS at 3:00 PM with burial to follow in the Easthaven Cemetery in Brookhaven, MS. Rev. Greg Warnock will be officiating the services with Brookhaven Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be at Brookhaven Funeral Home on Monday, May 20, 2019, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM.

Mrs. O'Keefe, 80, of Jackson, MS, passed from this life on Friday, May 17, 2019, at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, MS with her loving family by her side. She was born on June 24, 1938 in Pike County, MS, to Joe O'Quinn and Velma Aultman O'Quinn Nations. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Brookhaven, MS. Mary Jo graduated from BHS in 1956 where she excelled in varsity basketball and tennis. She was also a majorette in the HS band. Mary Jo earned a scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi as a Dixie Darling by winning Water Carnival Queen. She completed her two-year Secretarial Science Degree from Southern and was immediately hired by MS State Employment Service in Brookhaven as a stenographer. She was promoted to the State Office in Jackson. She also worked for American Public Life Insurance Company in Jackson and as a Sales Rep in the furniture business. She resided at the Carlton Apartments and she had many friends there. Mary Jo was a  loving care-giver for many years for her mother.

Preceding her in death were her parents and step-father Marshall Nations.

Survivors are her sister, Doris Panzica (Robert) of Brookhaven, MS; nephews Richard Panzica (Becky) and Greg Panzica (Elizabeth); step-sister Floy Mathis (Meade); grand-nephew Daniel Panzica and grand-niece Haylee Panzica; and a host of family and friends. She also leaves behind many friends at the Carlton and other long-time friends who were supportive in her battle with Cancer.

The family would like to give many thanks to her doctors especially Dr. Cambell and Dr. Natalie Sheehan.