JoBess Sudduth Geisendorff

Jo Bess Sudduth Geisendorff left this earth on March 16, 2026, at the age of 92. She had a radiant spirit, loved life, and laughed easily. She found beauty in everything and people adored her. A loving wife, mother, grand and great-grandmother, she was also an artist and loved adventure.

She was born in Mendenhall, Mississippi to Odie Lee Durrett and Joe Meek Sudduth, Jr., on August 27, 1933. Her dad died when she was 11, so her mother went to work, and Jo Bess learned to cook and cared for her little brother Joe after school. She was the football queen of her high school and loved to dance. Her mom allowed her to host sock hops in which they would move the furniture, roll the rugs and jitterbug until the phonograph was too hot to touch. She loved The Red Tops. Jo went to business school in Memphis and met her future husband while visiting her Aunt Ella in Beaumont. Reggie and Jo married when she was 21 and she moved to Beaumont, where she lived the rest of her life. She was generous of spirit, an excellent cook, and though on a limited budget, there was always room at her table. She worked as a medical receptionist in the offices of Drs. Mower and St. Amand, where she developed many lasting friendships. She enjoyed painting and her work graced the halls of Westgate Memorial Baptist Church for many years. The church was important to her and the family is grateful for the support provided by them. Jo was an adventurer and loved to travel with her daughters. She was a character in the best sort of way. She and her running buddy Billye Cook loved estate sales and were known to scout secret locations of them by cruising the neighborhood looking for the distinctive trailers used by the sales’ organizers. She was sparkly in style and personality and always presented herself thoughtfully. Her caregivers referred to her as “Our Queen” and her children felt the same way.

Jo’s husband, Reggie, and daughter, Suzann, preceded her in death. Her children, Glenda Corning (Henry), Stuart Geisendorff (Meme), Joy Walker (John, deceased), Robert Geisendorff (Suzie) survive her as well as nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. The family thanks Stacie Kurtz, Jackie Ardoin, Lou LeBlanc & Mae Paul for their tender care of her in her last days.

A gathering of Mrs. Geisendorff’s family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2026, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church, 6220 Westgate Drive, Beaumont. Her interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.