Mary Jo McMichael

Mary Jo McMichael

Mary Jo Smith McMichael (born May 24, 1932 in Atlanta, Georgia; died October 11, 2016 in Birmingham) was a long-time owner of the Irondale Cafe and author of the restaurant's cookbook.

Mary Jo was one of nine children born to John William and Mary Alma Frances Baker Smith of Atlanta. She graduated from West Fulton High School in 1949, and married Billy Hilman McMichael that September. She went to work for Horn Wilson and performed on piano and organ at her church. When the couple moved to Birmingham she took a job with Birmingham Trust National Bank.

In 1972 the McMichaels purchased the Irondale Cafe. They expanded the restaurant from 40 to 90 seats, and then again to 200 seats in 1991. Mary Jo McMichael wrote the Irondale Café Original Whistle Stop Cookbook, published in 1995 by Crane Hill.

McMichael was active at Eastside Baptist Church, in the Order of the Eastern Star, and as president of the Birmingham Women's Civic Club.

McMichael died in October 2016. She was survived by her son, Billy Jr; two daughters, Beth and Connie, and by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is buried at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville.

References

• "Mary Jo Smith McMichael" obituary (October 14, 2016) The Birmingham News