From the San Pedro Historical Society to the Harbor Area YWCA -- and many other organizations -- Mary Jo Walker made a lasting mark on her adopted hometown.
Walker, a longtime community volunteer in her beloved San Pedro, died last month. She was 93. Services for Walker are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 1648 W 9th St., in San Pedro, with her burial to follow.
Walker was born Dec. 31, 1931, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up on Lake Minnetonka. She graduated from Wayzata High School in 1950.
She began her career as a stewardess for Northwest Airlines, but moved to San Pedro in 1961, doing bookkeeping and record-keeping work -- though helping her community was her passion.
Her quiet devotion to the port community, in fact, was the foundation of her legacy of service. Walker volunteered with the YWCA, Salvation Army, Chamber of Commerce, the San Pedro Historical Society and St. Peter's Episcopal Church, among many others.
"Mary Jo Walker left her 'fight' in every corner of San Pedro," said former Los Angeles Councilmember Joe Buscaino. "From the Historical Society to the YWCA, her legacy is woven into the fabric of our community. I saw her strength firsthand on the YWCA racial justice committee, where she championed TEEN CPAB (Community Police Advisory Board) and held me accountable with tough love I deeply respected. She made San Pedro stronger, and her spirit will continue to guide us."
Mona Dallas Reddick, president of the San Pedro Historical Society, said Walker served in an unofficial role of mentor when Reddick began leading the organization.
"She had this deep personal ethic to service," Reddick said. "You could depend on her utterly."
She also held to an ethic of thrift, Reddick said, "this ideal of doing more with less."
Walker was also a mainstay in the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, assisting every year with the organization's holiday parade through the downtown area.
"Mary Jo was a cherished part of our community and touched so many lives," said current Councilmember Tim McOsker. "Through her years of volunteering with countless local organizations, she gave her time and energy to make San Pedro a better place for everyone. She will be deeply missed, but the legacy of service she leaves behind will continue to inspire all of us who were fortunate to know her."
Janice Hahn, a former councilmember who now sits on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, said Walker's "compassion knew no bounds."
"Whether it was as a faithful member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church or her longtime involvement in the YWCA, where she touched the lives of countless women and girls," Hahn said, "she worked hard behind the scenes to make a difference in our community and she didn't do it for the accolades. I know we will all miss her quick wit and her easy sense of humor."
Walker had a deep compassion for others, Reddick said, especially those with physical limitations and children.
She also seemed to know exactly where to look for historical information, Reddick said.
Through the years, Walker worked for a number of local businesses, including waterfront restaurants where she helped manage banquet arrangements.
And each year, Walker continued to visit her home state of Minnesota, where her son and his family lived, touching base with other family members as well.
She also had a passion for cooking and entertaining, according to an obituary notice posted by St. Peter's, her home church of many years.
"Her home was a welcoming gathering place," the church said in the obituary, "where family and friends enjoyed delicious meals and heartfelt hospitality together."
Walker, who died July 23, is survived by her son, James, and his wife, Wendy Walker; a granddaughter and two great-grandchildren; and 10 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Grant and Marie Lampman-Grant, and a brother, James Grant.
"Her life was a testament to resilience, service and love," the St. Peter's newsletter obituary said. "Those who knew her will remember her sharp mind, quick wit, and unwavering commitment to family and community."
Donations in her memory can be made to any one of the organizations she supported.