Robbie Joan "Jo" Walters

Robbie Joan “Jo” Walters, 89, of Gulfport, MS passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 31, 2025.

Jo was born in Clarksdale, MS on June 27, 1935. She moved to Gulfport and graduated from Gulfport High School in 1953. After high school she went to work for Harris Lumber, where she worked for many years. In 1976, Jo began her career at the City of Gulfport. She served as the Administrative Assistant to the Commissioner of Public Works, R.C. Randall. Upon a change to the Form of Government, she became the office manager to the Public Works director. Jo worked in this position with other directors, including Buddy Broadway and Derrel Wilson until her retirement in the late 1990’s. With a wealth of knowledge, intelligence, and humor, Jo was the go-to person for many. Her retirement left a significant void that was hard to fill. Her days at City Hall were some of the best days of her life.

Throughout her life Jo loved the water. She and Evans were avid boaters and fishermen. Most days you could find Jo at the Gulfport Harbor on her beloved boat, THE ROBBIE JO. She enjoyed hosting family and friends each weekend and showing them The Islands. Ship Island was her favorite. When not docked at Ship, you could find Jo and Evans traveling to Destin on the Robbie Jo. One of her favorite sights was arriving in Destin at sunset and seeing the “Destin Pass”. She loved fishing and shared many stores about catching Sailfish and Marlin throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

Jo and Evans also loved and supported Gulfport High School basketball. They would travel with the team and rarely missed home games. You could always find them sitting courtside cheering on their favorite Admirals.

After retirement, Jo embraced and adored the role of Great-Great Aunt to Jack, Sophie and Lily, or “the babies” as she called them. She took enormous pride in being involved with their activities, upbringing and everyday life.

If you know Jo, you know she loved a heavy starched creased pant, oversized sunglasses and her signature scarves. Jo was a friend, a confidant, and loyal to her core. She was fierce, feisty and funny. She loved her friends and family, but most of all she loved Jesus. She was a member of Trinity Methodist Church where she loved and adored her church family.

Jo was fortunate enough to spend time at Seashore Highlands in Gulfport recently where she made new friends and loved reconnecting with high school classmates. The family would like to extend their gratitude for her days spent at Seashore.

Jo was preceded in death by her husband, Evans O. Walters; her parents, Doyle and Opal Shepherd; her sister and her husband, Ruth and Charles Baker.

She is survived by her niece, Debby (Gary) Dubuisson of Gulfport; her nephew, Chuck Baker of Gulfport; her nephew, Vernon (Carrie) Walters of Gulfport; her great-niece, Kirstin (Cameron) Rager and their daughter Lily; her great-nephew, Hayden Walters; her great-niece, Ashley (Michael) Schloegel and their children, Jack, Sophie and Lily of Gulfport; her great niece, Julie (Byron) Cotton and their daughter Callie of Shalimar, FL. Jo is also survived by her best friend who she loved and adored, Sandy Hill.

Services will be private. Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, is serving the family.