Mary Jo Blue "Ella Mae", 87, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2022, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ. She was born on April 20, 1935, in Charleston, South Carolina to Hayward and Essie Beauford. Mary Jo spent her early years and summers with her paternal and maternal grandparents. Both grandmothers were named Ella, which is how Mary Jo is also known as Ella Mae.

She was educated in the public schools of Charleston County in South Carolina. She was a 1953 Honor graduate of Burke High School. After her high school graduation, the family moved to Neptune, NJ.

Mary Jo knew how to sew and her first job in New Jersey was with a clothing factory in Asbury Park, NJ as a seamstress. She also worked at Keystone Laundry in Asbury Park for several years. She went on to further her education by attending Brookdale Community College.

Mary Jo became a Nurse's Aide at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ where she worked for 27 years before retiring in 1993. She continued to sew for many people until she was no longer able to. She was a very active member of Bethel AME Church, Asbury Park for 69 years. She had a vast list of church duties over the years, some of which included being president of the local Lay Organization, president of the Scholarship Committee, a member of the Mattie Graham Women's Missionary Society and vice-chairperson of the Steward Board for over 60 years.

Her greatest pleasures were her family and helping raise her granddaughters and being of service to her church and the members she considered family. Mary Jo married James C. Blue of Neptune in 1960. To this union one daughter, Sandra was born.

She was predeceased by her parents, Hayward and Essie Beauford; her sister, Anna Marie Comfort; two brothers, Robert and Nathaniel Beauford; and nephews, Robert Beauford, Jr., Alfred Comfort, Jr, Gerard Comfort, Sr., and Tyrone I. Comfort. Her memory lives on with her daughter, Sandra Blue - Hollins of Neptune; two granddaughters, Kayla Hollins and Sierra Hollins of Neptune; loving nieces, April Brinson of Asbury Park, Patricia Comfort -Capers of Charleston, SC and Saundra Wilson -Mitchell (Damien) of Neptune; loving nephews, Gerald Beauford (Vera) of Toms River, NJ, Casey Beauford of Fountain Inn, SC, George Taylor (Gwendolyn) of Coral Springs Florida; godson, Greeley Ford (Candace) of Florida; a loving friend and aunt, Ruby Beauford of Neptune; and a host of great family members and friends.