Jackson Free Press

Mary Jo McAnally, a longtime community leader who served more than 15 years as the associate director of the Fondren Renaissance Foundation, died at her home on Nov. 3.

McAnally was born July 20, 1941, in Memphis, Tenn. She attended the University of Mississippi, where she was a featured twirler in the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band and a member of Tau Beta Sigma. During her college career, she pledged Tri Delta sorority and was named Campus Cutie, Campus Favorite and runner up for Miss University.


Later, McAnally joined the Junior League of Jackson and co-chaired the Tennis South International, a fundraiser for underprivileged children. She also served as co-chair of the first Capital Campaign at Jackson Preparatory School and on the advisory board of St. Dominic Hospital.


McAnally also established her own real estate firm, Mary Jo Bickerstaff, Inc., in 1980. Through it, she carried out projects such as the establishment of the Jackson Cancer League and the Jackson Women's Council of Realtors. After joining the board of the Fondren Renaissance Foundation, she became involved in creating some of the Jackson metro area's biggest events, including Symphony at Sunset, Fondren Unwrapped, Fondren Park and the Phoenix Housing Project.

One of McAnally's biggest projects was saving Jackson's oldest residence building, now called The Cedars, which would have been torn down to build a high-rise complex. McAnally was unhappy with the thought of such a historic building being destroyed and knew many Fondren residents felt the same way, so she began leading fundraising efforts so that Fondren Renaissance could purchase the property to preserve and renovate it. Today, The Cedars is one of Jackson's most popular venues for weddings and other events.


"I knew Mary Jo ever since she started working with Fondren Renaissance, and there never was a more dedicated individual who worked so hard for what she felt was important and loved Fondren as much as she did," Buddy Graham, owner of Navarro-McLean Interiors and a Fondren Renaissance board member, said. "She brought so many fresh ideas to the table on how to accomplish things in the neighborhood, and I would say that Fondren is indebted to her. She was willing to put in the effort that was needed to make things happen—things that were dear to her heart. It was a pleasure to know her and be involved with her work. After her funeral, there was a celebration of her life at The Cedars, and everyone was happily telling each other tales of her life there. It was a great thing to see, and not many people get that kind of uplifting sendoff."

Roy Decker, an architect at Duvall Decker Architects in Fondren and a former Fondren Renaissance board president, had a similar experience working alongside McAnally.

"I never saw her say a negative thing about anybody, and she worked tirelessly to help everybody around her," he says. "It was her and her real estate agency that helped me get the building my business is in now. She was an example of a person who cared more for the quality of her community than about any self-interest and was an example for all public officials serving the community. Her shoes will be very hard to fill."

McAnally and her husband, Ron McAnally, had two children, daughter Susan Bickerstaff Goodwin and son Michael McAnally, and three grandchildren, Mary and Lucy Goodwin and Walker McAnally.