Billie Jo Crawford, 1935 – 2020

Billie Jo Crawford, who was known lovingly by many as JoJo and BJ, was a native of Utica, Miss., and lived there for 85 years. She died at Baptist Hospital in Jackson from complications of valve replacement surgery. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at the Utica Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. prior to the service. A private graveside service will be at a future time.

Billie Jo loved life. Her bright blue eyes sparkled joy. She loved everyone unconditionally. Her family was a treasure to her, and many dear friends were a special delight to her life. She enjoyed art very much. BJ always said it was her therapy. She was able to capture God’s beauty in many different styles, but they almost always were filled with beautiful colors. Now she is beholding God’s beauty with new eyes and seeing colors even she never imagined.

Billie Jo and Jack were married on Feb. 24, 1954. They lived in Arizona for a short time while Jack was in the Army. They returned to their homeplace in the corner of Claiborne and Hinds County and have remained there. Jack passed away May 5, 2017. They were married 63 years.

Billie Jo is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline Cannada (Russell), and her son, Ronny Crawford (Graciela); her grandchildren Scott Crawford Cannada, Stephanie Jo Cannada, Angie Haughton, Ron Crawford, Matthew Crawford and Jarrett Alsup; her great-grandchildren, Haley and Hayden Cannada, Mackenzie Crawford and Mason Bound; her three loving sisters, Jeanette Skinner, Barbara Manley and Alice Cook; her sister-in-law Mary Mathews Russell; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and a host of loving friends. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth Mathews; her parents, Willie Frank Mathews and Mattie Eliza Bragg Mathews: and her grandmother, Josie May Parker Mathews

Memorials may be made to Utica Baptist Church, which has held a special place in her heart for many years. P. O. Box 205 Utica, MS 39175

“For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. “ Romans 14:17-8