Jo Bryant Wilbanks (Floydada)
Josephine Halencak Bryant Wilbanks, age 91, of Floydada, passed away on July 3, 2023, at 12:35 a.m. in Plainview at the Plainview Healthcare Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Floydada, with Father Angelo Consemino officiating. Interment will follow at the Floydada Cemetery.
Jo Halencak Bryant Wilbanks was born to Frank and Della Halencak in Crowell, Texas, on March 18, 1932, in Foard County. She was the 10th child out of 11. She graduated from Crowell High School in 1950. She then met Nile Bryant from Truscott, Texas, and they married on September 2, 1950, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Vernon, Texas. They were married for 37 years before his passing on July 7, 1987, at 57.
She married Philip Wilbanks on March 19, 1994, at the St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Floydada, Texas.
Jo was raised on the farm. Her daddy was a cotton farmer, and she would chop cotton. She worked at the Crowell Cotton Gin Office. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom, raised chickens, and had a garden that provided food for the family. After marrying Nile Bryant, they moved to Floydada, Texas, where Nile Bryant worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. Jo got involved in the St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church and served there for 55 years. Jo received many awards from the Catholic Diocese of Lubbock with certificates, pins, and plaques. She was a Sunday school teacher for CCE, the Liturgy Committee, a Communion Minister, and the Homebound Taught Adult RICA. She was also a choir director, served on the financial committee, and volunteered for the prayer group ministry in her home for ten years. Since she was so involved and got to know many people, people nicknamed her “Deacon Jo”.
Jo was very involved in her community. She volunteered for four years for the Women’s Hospital Auxilary Committee for the Caprock Hospital in Floydada, Texas. She was a volunteer for the Juvenile Probation office for four years. During that time, she developed a Jail Ministry. Jo visited with the inmates, prayed with them, brought them food, and gave them gifts at Christmas. She wrote letters to the prisoners at Huntsville, Texas, that were on death row. She received a certificate from the Criminal Justice Course out of Huntsville for taking 80 hours at South Plains College. Jo was also involved in her community at the Spirit of Sharing House as a receptionist providing food, clothing, and gas for the needy. She participated in a St. Jude Bike-A-Thon to help raise $425. She became the activity director at the Floydada Nursing Home and served there for two years. Before that, she volunteered for ten years doing daily bible devotion and would lead them in songs of praise.
She loved music and dancing. She is a descendant of a Czechoslovakian culture and loved going to West Texas for the West Texas Czech Fest. She was raised in the Catholic Faith and found joy in serving God’s people. She loved cooking and doing arts and crafts and family reunions at Brownfield, Texas. Jo was involved in so many parts of people’s lives. Her goal was to enjoy life and live it to the fullest while drawing others to the Love of Christ she cherished. She would even learn about your personality and give you a nickname that would bring you joy.
Jo is preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, five sisters, her former husband, Nile Bryant, and her daughter Paula MacArthur.
Those left to cherish the wonderful memory of Jo are her husband; Philip Wilbanks, her daughter; Nila and her husband Jack Ball, her grandkids; Cody Sewell, Johnathan and Amy Bryant, Brian Ball, David and Katie Steffey, Jesse MacArthur, Dale MacArthur and Emma MacArthur, five great-grandchildren, two great-great-granddaughters, three stepdaughters; Leslie Roberts, Christy and Mark Jones, and Candace and Tony Duke, two stepsons; Bill Wilbanks, and Monte and Sheila Wilbanks, 17 step-grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
