Mary Jo Utsey Wilkes, 89, of Mount Pleasant, SC, entered into eternal rest Saturday, February 23, 2019. The family will receive friends Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 1:00 pm at J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL. The funeral to follow at 2:00 pm at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, 1308 Mathis Ferry Road.

Mary Jo was born in Bamberg, SC to the late Mary Risher Utsey and James Leon Utsey. She was the wife of the late Claude Warren Wilkes. Mary Jo devoted her life to her family, delighting in their successes. She was strong minded, independent and fierce, often offering her opinion. She was passionate about nature and she loved animals, often adopting stray cats and dogs that came to her door. She will be missed by her family who knew her as a friend and confidante as well as a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her daughters, Cindy Hartline of Charleston, SC and Kay (George) Nicholson of Myrtle Beach, SC; sons, David (Maria) Wilkes and Randy Wilkes of Charleston, SC; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Charleston Animal Society, 2455 Remount Road, North Charleston, SC, 29406.