Mary Jo Ledbetter

Ledbetter, Mary Jo (DeRoncey), 93, of Birmingham went home to be with the Lord Thursday night, April 18, 2019 in Fairfax, Virginia. She was born and raised in Birmingham along with her three brothers and three sisters. She graduated from Phillips High School. Mary Jo served with honor in the Women's Army Corp (WAC) as Tech Sergeant first at Fort Monroe in Virginia and then at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Paris for three years. While at SHAPE Headquarters, she worked for Generals Alfred D. Gruenther, C. Rodney Smith, and Malcolm B. Breckenridge. And, while stationed in Paris, she traveled through seven different countries. After returning to Fort Monroe, she married William Harvey Ledbetter in Hampton, VA and then returned with Harvey to Birmingham. They celebrated 41 years of marriage before his passing in 1997. Together they raised William Joseph (Joe), Kenneth (Ken) Lee and Mary Kathryn (Kay) Hawkins. Mary Jo retired from Small Business Administration after 27 years. She attended 66th Street Baptist Church, Packer Memorial Baptist Church, and Carson Road Baptist Church over the years. Mary Jo is preceded in death by her husband Harvey and son Joe; parents Alexander Joseph and Mary Estelle DeRoncey; brothers Robert DeRoncey, Jack DeRoncey and Maurice Stewart; and sister Margaret Burks. She is survived by her son Ken of Mobile, Alabama; daughter Kay (Keith) Hawkins of Fairfax, VA; grandson Ian Hawkins; sisters Doris Muir and Patricia Coots as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive visitors at 11:00am with funeral service to follow at 12:00pm (Noon) April 24, 2019 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Mary Jo (Joey) to her family and close friends was loved dearly and will be sorely missed.