Mary Josephine Stumpe Pitts, known to her loved ones as “Mary Jo,” passed away peacefully on April 11, 2025, in Florence, Alabama, at the age of 77. Mary Jo was a devoted Catholic who received 16 years of Catholic education, attending St. Michael’s, Sacred Heart Academy, and Siena College in Memphis, Tennessee. She dedicated 37 years of her life to teaching English at Rogers High School, inspiring generations of students with her passion for learning.
Mary Jo shared 53 years of marriage with her beloved husband, Donnie Pitts, and together they built a life centered on love, faith, and family. She took great pride in her role as a grandmother and cherished every moment spent with her grandchildren, Luke and Abby.
She had a deep love for thrifting and spent cherished moments with her lifelong best friend, Susie. Mary Jo had a passion for collecting Annalee Dolls, dishes, and Fontanini Nativity sets. She also enjoyed talking on the phone, deeply loved her cousins, and cherished her roots in the St. Florian community. Planting flowers was another favorite pastime of hers.
Mary Jo and her husband were active members of the Alabama and National Rural Letter Carriers Association, and she served the Alabama Auxiliary Association for 40 years. She traveled extensively over the United States promoting the Association and made many friends during her favorite times in Washington, D.C.
Mary Jo is survived by her husband Donnie, children Heath (Molly) Pitts and Cheron (Blair) White, brothers Paul (Cindy) Stumpe and Phil (Pam) Stumpe, grandchildren Luke White and Abby Pitts, and special friend Susie Barnett Haygood.
A Rosary and visitation will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Monday, April 14, followed by a Funeral Mass and burial on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Pallbearers honoring Mary Jo’s memory include Kenneth Clemons, Paul Stumpe, Phil Stumpe, Tommy Coker, Luke White, Heath Pitts, Blair White, and Codi Stumpe. Greenhill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Jo’s legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. May her memory bring comfort to all who mourn her passing.