Mary Joe (Fancher) Wicke

Her niece Chappell Yoste said it best, “Our beloved Queenie left us today. . .she fought hard to stay with us. . .
there is no other quite like her. I am a better daughter, sister, aunt, wife and friend because of her impeccable
example of living and loving us everyday.”

Mary Joe Wicke, 66, died January 14, 2026, at home in Jackson, Mississippi. Mary Joe was born in Canton to
Joe and Elsie Fancher.

Services will be held Monday, January 19, 2026, at Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church, PCA, 750 S Pear Orchard
Rd, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157. Visitation is at 12:30 p.m. with the service following at 2:00. Burial will be at the
Canton Cemetery immediately following the service. Officiating will be Rev. Carl Kalberkamp and Rev. Caleb
Cangelosi. Pallbearers are Alexander Hill, Ashton Hill, Robert Morris, Dr. Benjamin Morris, Marshall Paden, Keith
Ramsdell, Walter Sligh, and William Yoste.

Mary Joe graduated from Canton Academy and was a charter member of the school. She attended Ole Miss
Pharmacy School and graduated in 1982. She was a member of Chi Omega sorority. Her career began at the
University of Mississippi Medical Center in the Pharmacy Department, but most of her time was spent in the
pediatric area. She retired after 28 years in 2009. She also did relief work in some local community drug stores.

Mary Joe along with her husband Freddie, was a member of Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church. She was active in
many ways, and served as a past president of The Women in the Church, the Bereavement and the Flower
Committees and used her talents to decorate the church for Easter and Christmas. Even enduring the past 3
years’ journey through an illness, Mary Joe’s faith in our sovereign LORD stayed strong and unwavering and she
said so.

Cooking and baking and then presenting the delicious food in a beautiful way gave her great pleasure. Her famous
“Miss Julia’s Teacakes” were a treat that many looked forward to receiving at Christmas. Her homemade bread
and cinnamon rolls were received enthusiastically. Mary Joe loved her flowers and all gardening. Within the last
few years Mary Joe took lessons and became a skilled bridge player. Looking forward to it weekly, it soon became
one of her most enjoyable pastimes. She also directed weddings.

Mary Joe was a member of the W D Holder Chapter of the UDC and was serving as Treasurer. She was a member
of Canton’s Doak’s Treaty Chapter of the DAR. She was also a member of the Madison Garden Club.

Mary Joe was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister-in-law Laura Blackwell. She is survived by her
husband of 35 years, Freddie Wicke. She is survived by sisters, Betsy Sligh(Stricklan), Melissa Masquelette (Phil)
and sister-in-law Virginia Morris. Also surviving Mary Joe are nieces, Chappell Yoste (William), Grace Ramsdell
(Keith), nephews Walt Sligh, Robert Morris (Jeremy) and Dr. Benjamin Morris. Also surviving are great-nieces,
Spencer Paden and Olivia Ramsdell, and great-nephews Alexander Hill, Ashton Hill, Marshall Paden, Hudson
Ramsdell and Ford Ramsdell.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church,
PCA, P.O. Box 1768 Ridgeland, MS 39158 or Quiet Waters, P. O. Box 2247, Madison, MS 39130.

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