Obituary Record

Longtime volunteer and active member of her Church and community, Motie Jean Crump Longo, of Waveland, died in her home on August 16, 2000. She was 72.

A resident of Waveland most of her life, she was the widow of Former Mayor John Longo, Jr. and the mother of current Mayor John Thomas Longo. She was retired from Southern Frosted Foods, Inc. and the Regional Wastewater District of Hancock County.

Jean Longo began her volunteerism as a young girl in grade school, continuing through her high school days in New Orleans where she became active in the American Women's Voluntary Services, a branch of the Junior Auxiliary.

She was a volunteer nurse for the American Red Cross and Touro Infirmary.

She obtained a degree in Medical Technology from Loyola University then married John Longo, devoting her time and energies to raising a family of six children and helping her husband in their family business.

She was an active member of St. Clare Catholic Church in Waveland where she was a lector, Eucharistic Minister, and member of the choir. She was involved in the St. Clare Sodality, St. Clare Elementary School and was appointed to the Bishop's Council on Women for the Diocese of Biloxi.

Jean Longo was a Life Member of the Girl Scouts and a District Council chairman for the Gulf Pines Girl Scout Council. She received both the St. Elizabeth Seton Adult Religious Scouting Award and the St. Ann Religious Award for her exceptional volunteer service to Girl Scouting.

Her other community involvements included Charter member of Nereids Carnival Association, the AARP, and the Hancock Women's Club. Her volunteer work extended into annual visits to the Catholic Diocese missions in Saltillo, Mexico.

Jean Longo had served with Quality Hospice for the past four years. She felt that she was called by God to service in hospice. She brought with her an experience of care for those close to her, her patience, and her close relationship with God. She was awarded the Quality Hospice Volunteer of the Year (1999) and the State "Heart of Hospice" Volunteer of the Year in 1999.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mayor John Longo, Jr. and her sister, Helen Crump Brown, and her parents, Ted and Motie Crump.

Survivors include six children: Gail Longo Trahan (Leo) of Escatawpa, Deborah Longo Worrel (David) of Biloxi, John Thomas Longo (Marcia) of Waveland, Steven Michael Longo of Waveland, Theodore John Longo (Amy) of Diamondhead, and Christine Longo Sturdevant (Bill, of Navasota, Texas and ten grandchildren: Andrew and Brianna Trahan; Emily and Christopher Collins; Emily, Rebecca, and Mary Beth Worrel; and Tiffany, Cali, and Johnny Longo.

Visitation will be at St. Clare Catholic Church in Waveland today, August 19, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. with a Funeral Mass immediately following. Burial will follow in Waveland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to the John Longo, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund (St. Clare School) in care of the Diocese of Biloxi, P.O Box 6489, Biloxi, MS 39532; or Quality Hospice of the Gulf Coast, P.O Box 549, Biloxi, MS 39533.

Edmond Fahey Funeral Home in Bay St. Louis is in charge of arrangements.

Source: Sun Herald 08/19/2000