Jo Carol Redd

Jo Carol Savarino Redd, age 84, died peacefully in a local hospital, Tuesday evening, August 1, 2023, in College Station, Texas surrounded by her family.

Jo Carol (affectionately known by many as Mama Jo) was born in Port Arthur, Texas January 11, 1939 to Julius P. Savarino and Ruby Inez Savarino.   Being Julius and Ruby’s only child, she was deeply treasured and loved.  She received her education in the Port Arthur public school system, graduating from Port Arthur’s Thomas Jefferson High School in 1957.  She attended the University of Houston and Lamar University in Beaumont, earning a BS in Elementary Education from Lamar in 1960.  After graduation, she was employed by the Port Arthur public school system to teach at the William B. Travis elementary school.  For the next 50 years, Jo Carol used her unique ability to “hook” young children into the joy of learning.

She had a long association with the art of ballet, receiving her first instruction at the young age of three at the Florence Coleman School of Ballet in Port Arthur.  At an early age she demonstrated talent, which encouraged her to invest the time and energy into possibly making ballet her profession.  She took lessons in New York City to perfect her art, but the practical side of her mother cut that dream short.   It was her belief that a girl needed a profession that was solid and secure, not one as unreliable as that afforded by the arts.  Thus, Jo Carol moved her love of performance from the stage into the classroom, where her young audience loved it.

For over 22 years Jo Carol raised her two sons in a modest home on Springdale Street in Port Arthur.  The house was always filled with family & friends coming together to laugh and share life over a plate of “Quick Spaghetti”.  Jo Carol lived life out loud and everyone who walked through her door was welcomed and loved–you knew it without question.  She was the magic that gave life its color and she was the glue that held us all together each and every day on Springdale.

Jo Carol and husband, James, moved from Port Arthur to College Station in 1998 mainly because she knew her sons, who are graduates of Texas A&M, will always be returning to that special place.  After the move, College Station quickly became her home, and then began her quick transformation into a zealous, if not rabid, Aggie.

Also, after the move to College Station, Jo Carol became part of that special group who serve as docents at the George Bush Presidential Library.  Additionally, she was a member of Kappa Delta, a former member of The Woman’s Club, and a former director at the Port Arthur YMCA.  She performed other community service, such as collecting personal items for our military members who were serving in foreign wars.

Jo Carol is preceded in death by her parents.  She is survived by her husband, James R. Redd of College Station, her two sons, Christiaan Sartain and wife Lauren of Fort Worth, Courtney Sartain and wife Ashley of Aledo, six grandchildren, Payton Sartain, Riley and husband Noah Vaughn, Brooks Sartain, Ava Sartain, Olivia Sartain, Drew Sartain, and one great-grandchild, Reese Vaughn.

Her service will be held Saturday, August 12, at 2:00 PM, at Christ Church on Highway 6 south in College Station, with Reverend Jerry House officiating. At 4:00 PM a reception will be held at Pebble Creek Country Club.

Your prayers and thanksgiving for Jo Carol’s remarkable life are the greatest gift you can share, but if you wish to remember her in another way, please consider a donation in her name to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105.  Express condolences at www.callawayjones.com.