Legacy of Love: Memorial Service Announced for Jo Long, Beloved Arts Advocate

October 24, 2021 - San Antonio

By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer | San Antonio Sentinel

On Thursday, the City of San Antonio announced a memorial service date for the late Jo Long, former executive director of the Carver Community Cultural Center. The service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 at the Carver’s Jo Long Theatre in the heart of the city’s East Side.

Ms. Jo Harolyn Long Williams, known to all who knew her as “Jo,” passed away on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at the age of 71 following a lengthy illness. She is survived by husband, Woodrow Williams, and stepson, Ryan Williams.

An esteemed leader and visionary in the world of the arts, Long became the first executive director of the Carver in 1976, a position she held until 2000. Under her leadership, the Carver became globally recognized as a leading cultural institution trademarked by her multicultural programming and commitment to equitable access for all community members. To the world of modern dance, the Carver grew to become what The Joyce Theatre is to New York’s thriving dance scene. 

Before coming to the Carver, Long began her career at Southern Methodist University as founding director of the Community Center for the Arts Association, where she worked from 1972-1976. Her legacy of service continued after her tenure at the Carver. She went on to serve as an administrator at San Antonio College’s Christian Student Center. 

It would be difficult to overstate the impact Long had in shaping San Antonio’s cultural landscape. As an arts advocate, she supported the early work and careers of many artists (In fact, it was at the Jo Long Theatre where this writer took his first dance classes), helping to nurture a generation of cultural leaders and laying the framework for so many other cultural arts institutions to come into existence and thrive.

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In a recent interview, Jorge Piña, director of programs for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, recalled a memory of Long: “It was the mid-80s, and we were at a community meeting where the Guadalupe was being attacked,” he began. “And [Long] spoke up to speak and simply said, ‘I am here with my Chicano brothers and sisters.’ She loved working with us and came to our events in the early days of the Guadalupe, when nobody was supporting us.” 

Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Carver Community Cultural Center or the Church of Christ Student Center. 

“What a legacy she has left with our beloved Carver,” wrote Mimi Quintanilla on Facebook. She will always be remembered for making the Carver Community Cultural Center a place for the arts - for everyone.”

Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer for the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. jade@sasentinel.com | Twitter: @satx_writer