Born in 1937 in Mt. Gilead, North Carolina, Jo was raised in the community of Ellerbe, North Carolina. Her rural roots formed her values and work ethic for the rest of her life. At an early age she worked in her family’s country general store where she listened to local farmers as they talked about the land, life and the wide world beyond the country crossroads in Ellerbe. As a child Jo wanted to earn her own money, so her father allowed her to sell ice cream to customers. Too short to reach the ice cream dispenser, she sat on the counter to dip and serve locals. Her father paid her based on a quota he established each workday. He wanted her to learn that hard work pays. Working in the family business and finding ways to overcome challenges would become a consistent theme later in Jo’s life.
Attending elementary and middle school in a two-room schoolhouse may seem limiting, but Jo’s passion for learning and her curiosity for exploring the world beyond Ellerbe were limitless even from an early age. Reading, asking questions and challenging prevailing thought came naturally to Jo as a child and informed how she approached learning the rest of her life. Her middle school and high school years balanced education with employment and working. Her father’s peach orchard business led to a summer job selling fresh picked peaches at a strategically placed roadside stand for travelers driving from the Piedmont to the Coast of North Carolina. And while Ellerbe was home for Jo from her birth to teenage years, she longed to explore new places and meet new people. Ironically sports would be one introduction to the world beyond Ellerbe. Her Uncles took her to baseball games and car races. For Jo the thrill of the sport was exhilarating and travel to new places was exciting. From these experiences Jo decided she wanted to meet two sports icons: baseball legend Mickey Mantle and racing royalty Roger Penske.
In 1955 Jo was accepted to Queens College. It proved to be a place where Jo could study the arts and learn about business. Fall and spring semesters were about academic study, and summers were still about work in her father’s business. Jo longed to travel and see other parts of the world, but that would have to come later in life. And while Jo would eventually travel to numerous countries in her lifetime, she realized how important travel is to expand a student’s view of the world. Later in life, Jo established and funded the Jo DeWitt Student International Travel Fund at Queens University that underwrites expenses for students to travel internationally. Jo would eventually serve as a member of the Board of Trustees at Queens University and continue to support the University’s mission to “provide transformative educational experiences that nurture intellectual curiosity and promote global understanding” via her travel fund. She loved receiving letters from students whose travels she enabled. Like Jo, the student travelers developed perspective that would forever impact the way they view the world.
Jo credits Queens College with changing her life trajectory. Former Queens University of Charlotte president, Dr. Pamela Davies said, “If you want to understand what defines Jo DeWitt Wilson, explore the intersection of candor of word, curiosity of mind, passion for learning and commitment to work.”
Throughout her life Jo appreciated the liberal arts education she received at Queens University. She felt exposure to the visual and performing arts was both inspiring and informative. And she loved how history preserved the past for future generations of learning. Providing access to performing arts experiences for the community was the focus of the DeWitt Arts Series program Jo and her family introduced to Richmond County Community College. Jo was also a supporter of the Moore County Arts Council and especially enjoyed their member trips abroad which took her to places like Scandinavia, Europe and South America. Jo had a particular fondness for Charleston, South Carolina. She was a member of The Preservation Society of Charleston and attended many Spoleto USA Festivals in the city through the years.
After graduating from Queens in 1959, Jo lived in Heidelberg, Germany for two years and then returned to Charlotte, NC and purchased her first home. Her work with Belk Stores Services enhanced her understanding of retail sales and service and led to work in Atlanta and Florida. After working with Belk’s, Jo enjoyed meeting and working with business owners as she traveled the southeast United States working as an independent sales representative selling children’s clothing and linens. Then, work in the family business called once again. By now Jo’s father was an owner of the North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, NC. When he passed away Jo and her mother became the first duo of women business owners to run a major NASCAR racetrack. Jo’s work led her to the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR racetracks and events across the country and even an introduction and connection to one of her most admired icons: Roger Penske. After owning and managing the Rockingham Motor Speedway for eight years, the family sold the track to Penske Racing. Jo was honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Penske Racing. Jo never got to meet Mickey Mantle, but she said meeting and being in the NASCAR business with Roger Penske was excitement enough.
Later in life Jo continued to work managing a family-owned long leaf pine tree farm and investing in residential real estate development. And she continued to learn about and explore the world around her while making it possible for other curious-minded young people to do the same.
Jo was predeceased by her parents Lindsay G. (L.G). DeWitt and Carrie Bowles DeWitt. She is survived by her sister Nancy Daugherty of Ellerbe, niece Lindsay Blackwood, husband Sherwood and children Kathryn, Will, and Olivia of Pinehurst, North Carolina and niece Carin Krawitz, husband Seth and children Anabelle and Adam of Richmond Virginia.
A Celebration of Life is planned for February 1st at 11:00AM in Belk Chapel at Queens University of Charlotte, 1840 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28274.
Memorial gifts or donations may be made to the Jo DeWitt Endowed International Adventurer Fund, Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28207 or the Moore County Arts Council (www.mooreart.org)
DONATIONS
Memorial gifts or donations may be made to the Jo DeWitt Endowed International Adventurer Fund, Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28207 or the Moore County Arts Council (www.mooreart.org)
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