Josephine Pannell Gregory was born on July 8th, 1931 in Hartsville, Alabama to Bivie Pannell and Lizzie Wright. She was the 4th of 7 children. While living in Hartsville, she met and married Ross Attkisson and had her son Ricky Jo Atkisson. She later moved to Kansas City, Missouri to work for Hallmark Cards. During this time she worked in manufacturing and had the distinct honor of addressing cards during the holiday season to VIPs, such as the President of the United States, the Queen of England, and contemporary celebrities.
In 1962, she met Leonard Lester Gregory Jr., and as she tells it, after that moment they were "just like one". The two were married in Michigan later that year, and honeymooned in Niagara Falls, and later she became the mother to Vickie Lynn in 1964 and Nancy Ann in 1966. Josephine was a devoted wife and mother. Josephine did her daughter's hair everyday and was an active member of the girls' school and activities.
A few years later, Michelle was born to Rick and Barbara, and Josephine became "Grandma" for the first time. She would later have many names, including "Sophie", coined by Megan, and later used by Ashlyn, and her children (Josephine's great-grandchildren) Alaina, Liam, Madeline, and Micky.
Josephine was also known to her granddaughters, Kristina and Katlin, as "Nanny". Josephine loved this role and loved getting to know her granddaughters. The girls spent almost every Friday of their childhood at her house, and were spoiled rotten by her and her love. Kristina says that one of her favorite memories of her Nanny is from her bridal shower just last year, in 2020, when Josephine was joking around and being "Naughty Nanny" and made a toilet paper dress, and made all of her friends laugh, and Kristina laughed until she cried.
Josephine had many many friends and family that she called and spoke with every day or weekly on the phone, and her family could not be more thankful for their friendship to her. Josephine, "Jo" or "Aunt Jo" as so many of you called her, so much enjoyed your phone calls, cards, and looked forward to them each and everyday, and we cannot thank you enough for your dedication to calling her and checking in with her each and every time that you did; it truly meant a lot to her and each one of us.
Josephine was preceded in death by her husband Leonard, her son, Ricky, her 6 siblings, and her parents Lizzie and Bivie.
She is survived by her daughters Vickie (Jeff, Ashlyn, Alaina, Madeline, Liam, and Micky), Nancy (Russell), and her granddaughters Michelle, Kristina (Brandon), and Katlin.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18