Jo Ellen Logan

Jo Ellen Logan, retired speech and theatre instructor at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi died on Friday, April 2, 2021 at her home in Senatobia following a long illness.

Logan, a native of DeSoto County Mississippi, was born December 22, 1953 to Joseph Lewis Logan and Alice Ruth Head Logan. After graduating from Horn Lake High School, Northwest Mississippi Junior College and Delta State University in Cleveland Mississippi, she earned her Master’s Degree from (then) Memphis State University. She began teaching at Northwest in 1975, later becoming Chair of the Speech and Theatre Department. She directed many productions including Cats, The Music Man, The Sound of Music, and The King and I.

Her talents were not limited to directing. She acted in a number of plays and used her sewing talents as costume designer for many productions. She served as co-chair of adjudicators for the Northwest Theatre Alliance for 13 years and was one of the adjudicators who determined the recipients of the Allie theatre awards.

In 2017 Logan was honored with the establishment and endowment of the Jo Ellen Logan Endowed Scholarship through the Northwest Foundation. The Northwest Players Club, a student organization, helped raise funds for the scholarship by selling T-shirts, sponsoring talent shows, and providing donation jars at concession stands at local Fine Arts events. Friends, family, supporters of the arts, and colleagues also contributed to the fundraising efforts. The scholarship is awarded to students studying theatre.

Logan served Senatobia Presbyterian Church as pianist, elder, choir director, and director of the Prayer Shawl Ministry. She enjoyed teaching crochet to friends and church members. Jo Ellen enjoyed quilting with her mother and organized a quilt exhibition at Northwest. A talented artist, Logan specialized in watercolor as a medium. 

Until her health declined, Logan served as volunteer with HOPE Ministries and was a past president of the Culture Club of Senatobia. She also served on the Historic Preservation Commission for the city of Senatobia.

Logan is survived by her brother Tim Logan (Leslie), of Bentonville, Ark., two nephews Evan (Kathe) and Joseph (Caroline), one niece, Anna Katherine Logan, five great nieces and nephews, and her long-time friend and caregiver Maggie Black. She also leaves a great number of relatives and friends. 

A memorial service will be held at Senatobia Presbyterian Church on Friday, April 9, at 11:00am. Visitation will begin at 10:00am. The service will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube (search Senatobia Presbyterian Church). 

A private interment will be held at New Bethlehem Cemetery in Horn Lake, Mississippi.

Jo Ellen requested that memorials be made to the Logan-Lipscomb Scholarship Fund through the Northwest Mississippi Community College Foundation, or to Senatobia Presbyterian Church. 

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