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Jo Evelyn Ray Steele Liggett, affectionately known as Jo, Jo Evelyn, or Mama Jo was best known for her love of God, singing, teaching, cooking, and baking.  She entered into peaceful rest on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

The second child of eight siblings, Jo Evelyn was born on December 31, 1930 in Knoxville, TN, to the late Jacob Ray, Sr. and Rachel Foster Ray. She attended schools in Knoxville, TN and continued her education in Charlotte, NC where she completed her high school education.

Jo Evelyn was nine years old when she joined the church and discovered a very young age her love of singing. She traveled with her church group singing at various churches. She met and married Clyde Steele who passed away in 1950. After which she met and married James Henry Liggett. They relocated to Charlotte, NC in 1957 where she later joined Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.

JoEvelyn was employed with the Belks Department Store Cafeteria downtown Charlotte, Presbyterian Orthopedic Hospital Cafeteria, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Cafeteria, and later became the Supervisor of Housekeeping for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she later retired in 1994.

JoEvelyn loved her church and became a very active member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. She was involved with the Music  Department and became the Choir Director where she worked with all choirs and inspired so many. She was also very active in the Sunday School, the Senior Ministry, the Kitchen committee, and the Mission department. She worked faithfully with the Mount Peace Missionary Circle and the Mecklenburg County Missionary group. She became the mother of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church and was loved by all where she often ministered to people and invited them to join the church and become active members.

JoEvelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Ray, Sr., and Rachel Foster Ray; her first husband, Clyde Steele; her second husband, James Henry Liggett; her granddaughter, Natasha B. Brown, her siblings, Jacob Ray, Jr., James "Sonny" Ray, Richard Ray, Betty Ray Poole, and Louelle Ray Kelley.

She is survived by her children: Clyde Steele, Jr. (Delouris), Deborah Dozier (Raymond), and Brenda Harrill; grandchildren, Clyde Steele, III (Felicia), Lakisha Jones, Donovan Broome, Demesha Broome, Leroy Harrill, Jr. (Sharonda), and Ebone Harrill; fifteen great grandchildren, eight great great grandchildren; siblings; David Ray, Sr., and Helen Greenlee; sister-in-law, Clydean Liggett, and brother-in-law, John Liggett. She also had four adopted children in Christ, Jerry and Janice Oates, and Thomas and Tonya Robinson; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, church family, and many, many friends.