Mary Jo White McGee

Mary Jo White McGee, age 94, of Columbia, Tennessee, passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior on June 16, 2026, in Franklin, Tennessee.

Born on October 15, 1931, in Giles County, Tennessee, Mary Jo was the daughter of Joseph Pitman White and Robbie Jo Allen White. She grew up in Campbellsville, Tennessee, graduated from Campbellsville High School, and later attended Columbia State. On April 27, 1949, she married the love of her life, Ross C. McGee. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, hard work, and service to others. They shared nearly sixty years of marriage before Ross's passing on November 18, 2008.

Mary Jo spent much of her career working for DuPont and later alongside her husband in the family businesses, McGee Properties and McGee Excavating. While she worked diligently throughout her life, her greatest accomplishment and deepest joy was always her family.

A faithful member of both Highland Church of Christ and Graymere Church of Christ, Mary Jo lived a life marked by humility, generosity, and service. She devoted countless hours to serving her community through Maury Regional Hospital, where she volunteered more than 2,000 hours. Her service included work with the Maury Regional Hospital Auxiliary Board and the hospital gift shop. She also faithfully supported Columbia Academy and served through the APTA.

Mary Jo was known for her servant's heart, strong work ethic, and unwavering devotion to those she loved. She found great joy in cooking, hosting gatherings, and creating a welcoming home where family and friends always felt loved. Her hospitality became one of her defining gifts, and many cherished memories were made around her table. Whether serving her family, her church, her neighbors, or her community, Mary Jo gave wholeheartedly and joyfully.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ross C. McGee; her parents, Joseph Pitman White and Robbie Jo Allen White; her son-in-law, Larry Taylor; and her siblings, Clarence (Irene) White, Clayson (Thelma) White, Joseph Pitman (Christine) White Jr., Opal (Herman) Connelly, Jewel (Odes) Kennedy, and Kenneth (Mary Francis) White.

She is survived by her daughters, Pamela (Dr. Vance) Hendrickson and Connie Taylor; her grandchildren, Brent (Meghan) Hendrickson, Elizabeth (Kevin) Miller, and Dr. Christopher Taylor (Wuyang Zhang); and her great-grandchildren, Isabella Miller, Mary Katelyn Miller, Adeline Hendrickson, and Scarlett Hendrickson. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, hospitality, and service that will continue through the generations she cherished so dearly.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee. A celebration of Mary Jo's life will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, with her son-in-law, Dr. Charles Vance Hendrickson, officiating. A graveside service will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Polk Memorial Gardens. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Columbia Academy, Smile Train or St. Jude.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers who lovingly cared for Mary Jo, including Theresa Cannon, Patricia Webb, Renee Wynn, the staff of NHC, and the team at Caris Hospice.

Mary Jo's life reflected the words of Psalm 23, a passage that brought her comfort and assurance. Her family finds peace in knowing that she now rests in the presence of her Good Shepherd.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6