Jeanne C. Luckey

Jeanne Carter Luckey died on Thursday, November 7, completing a life of unyielding hope, strength, and generosity. Born in Louisville, Mississippi, Jeanne put down roots on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where she built her life around community and service with her husband of 40 years, Alwyn Luckey. Jeanne attended Biloxi public schools and went on to the University of Mississippi, graduating in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in Education. After graduation, she taught teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ocean Springs public schools. She later earned her master’s in Special Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. 

Jeanne married Alwyn, her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, at the First Presbyterian Church of Biloxi on August 4, 1984. Their family grew to include two daughters, Laurel and Taylor, her son-in-law Luke Brennan, and two adored grandchildren, Cornelius and Toxie Ray Brennan. She was a steadfast source of comfort and laughter to her friends, and an emblem of humility and grace to her admirers. Indeed, her character and perseverance inspired all who knew her, especially in times of adversity. In 2005, a devastating car accident left her paralyzed just days after Hurricane Katrina. Despite the physical and emotional challenges of her new reality, she demonstrated time and again unwavering faith, determination, and her characteristic generosity of spirit. She provided wisdom for others facing similar journeys, often logging into support forums to offer comfort and direction to people across the country navigating spinal cord injuries.

Throughout her life, Jeanne was deeply engaged in her community. She served on the boards of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Homes of Grace, the Salvation Army, the Montessori School of Ocean Springs, the Gulf Coast Debutante Society, and the Gulf Coast YMCA. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the P.E.O. 

Her contributions extended to her work with the Republican Party, where she served as Mississippi’s Republican National Committee Woman and President of the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women. A staunch conservative, Jeanne approached politics with conviction and integrity, strongly advocating for the importance of local government and the strength of individual resolve.

Jeanne also served as the vice-chair of the Board of Trustees for the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), which is the governing board of Mississippi’s public universities. During her tenure, she chaired the IHL ADA Compliance Committee, which gave her the opportunity to draw from her own experience to seek equitable access to education for persons with disabilities. 

To friends and family, Jeanne was much more than her extensive accomplishments. She was a force of nature, a woman whose kindness knew no bounds and whose faith remained unshakable. She never met a stranger and welcomed everyone as a friend. Her hospitality and undeniable style were at the heart of every holiday gathering. She was abundantly generous. Unwavering in her convictions, she was both strong-willed and humble, open to being shaped by her own experiences and those of the people she loved. Jeanne’s relationship with her best friend Shundra was one marked by the deepest mutuality and epitomized what Jeanne believed most: that family and community are the most important things in life— that we need each other. 

Jeanne was an expert home decorator, football tailgate hostess, and self-proclaimed Disney World enthusiast. 

Jeanne was as real as she was remarkable— aware of her own vulnerabilities and limitations, yet persistently rising above them. Alongside challenge after challenge, she kept going, buoyed by her love of family, the support of her community, and a steadfast hope in Christ. As one friend put it: “We are the lucky ones; to have loved and been loved by THE Jeanne Luckey.” 

Jeanne leaves behind a legacy of compassion, strength, and enduring faith. All who knew her should be confident that she is now with the God of hope who wipes away every tear from our eyes (Rev. 21:4). 

She is survived by her loving husband, Alwyn; her beloved daughters, Laurel Luckey and Taylor (Luke) Brennan; her precious grandchildren, Cornelius and Toxie Ray Brennan; her mother, Janice Elaine Carter; her siblings, Raymond D. Carter, Michael (Gwen) Carter, and Janice (Greg) Stevens; numerous nieces and nephews; the Bensons, who were like a second family to Jeanne; and countless friends who will carry her memory forward. She is reunited in peace with her father, Raymond J. Carter, and her nephew, Donald Paul Carter.

Family, friends, and all who knew Jeanne are invited to honor her life on Wednesday, November 13, at the First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs. Public visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, followed by a funeral service at 11:30 AM. There will be a reception in the church Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. A family-only graveside burial will take place later this week.

In lieu of flowers, the Luckey family requests that donations be made to the Batson Children’s Hospital at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. 

Jeanne’s memory will forever be held by those who had the joy to know and be known by her. Her life, rich in both accomplishments and relationships, touched so many. She was truly exceptional and she will be deeply missed. 

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jeanne Carter Luckey.