Mrs. Mary Jo Dukes, 85

Mrs. Mary Jo Dukes, 85 of Uvalda passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Mary was born in Screven to the late Mr. Joseph Lee Groover and Mrs. Dalfie Evans Groover.
Sweet, loving and kind were words best used to describe Mary. She always had a smile and a helping hand to offer. She never met a stranger, and all were welcome at her home. She is preceded in death by her husband, Silas Aaron Dukes, brother, Donald Groover, sister, Ruth Crummey, stepsister, Julie Hutchinson, daughter, Bethene Dukes Baxley, and son, Glenn Lamar Dukes. She is a charter member of Bible Baptist Church.
She is survived by her son, David Dukes (Pam Carter) of Baxley; daughter, Mary Jean Dunlap (Terry) of Eastman; daughter-in-law, Heike Dukes of Brandon, Fla.; son-in-law, Wallace Baxley of Baxley; sister-in-laws, Ethel Dukes, Josephine Groover both of Hazlehurst, Nell Dukes of Brunswick; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held June 20 at Hazlehurst Bible Baptist Church with the Rev. Manford Gilbert officiating. Interment followed in Hazlehurst Memorial Cemetery.
Grandsons, James Hughes, Harry Hughes, Glenn Dukes Jr., Brandon Dukes, Clint Baxley, Kevin Baxley, Allen Dukes, Shane Dukes served as pallbearers.
Granddaughters, Sandra Hughes, Kelly Dukes, Lacy Etters, Shonda Miller, and Regina Dukes served as honorary pallbearers.
Music was rendered by Ethan Hutchinson and the Bible Baptist Quartet.
Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home was in charge.