Judith Reimers Bennett

Judith Reimers Bennett was returned home to her Lord and Savior on July 31, 2025.  Daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Francis Reimers, she was born in Orlando, Florida on December 30, 1944. She arrived in Beaumont with her parents in 1948.

Judie graduated from Beaumont High School in 1963, where she was active in student government and the pep squad. After high school, she attended Stephens College in Missouri and the University of Texas at Austin before graduating from Lamar State College with a degree in Biology. She married her high school sweetheart, Richmond Oliver Bennett III, in 1967. Judie taught chemistry and biology in the Beaumont, Jasper and Nacogdoches public schools and she would find ways to be a teacher for the rest of her life. Judie and Richmond returned to Beaumont to raise their family in 1973.

For more than 50 years, Judie taught. She taught her children about faith and hard work and the importance of an education; how to swim and how to dive; to be brave and do scary things; how to sew, how to make a pot of crawfish etouffee and the perfect cup of coffee.  Judie taught CPR classes for the American Red Cross and Vacation Bible School at First Methodist. Later, Judie guided thousands through the college admission process, chasing tardy students through the halls of Kelly High School about their application essays, scholarship opportunities and meeting with their parents as the College Coordinator. After she retired (the second time), she served Trinity Day School as the President for five years and taught Bible study classes at Trinity. She continued teaching with daily devotionals she sent to friends and family, and anyone she felt needed a boost.

Her most favorite job as teacher was that of grandmother to Ben, Ella, Zee, Oliver, Wayland and Franklin. They, of course, were perfect students in her eyes. The grandchildren preferred the “lessons” involving cookies and ice cream. She was convinced that God never created six more perfect, kind, funny, smart, generous people.

Judie loved her friends, and she had the most eclectic groups of friends around: life-long school friends, her parents’ friends, parents of her children’s friends, fellow volunteers and bible study participants. She was a confidante for her children’s friends, for whom she always seemed to have an endless store of patience and wisdom. Whether here in Beaumont or flung across the country (and across the ocean), she worked to keep up with her fellow life travelers. When a distant friend crossed her mind, she made a point of touching base. She was certain it was God telling her to check in.

Judie is survived by her children, Richmond Arthur Bennett and wife, Molly Hartnett Bennett; Megan Reimers Bennett; and Lindsay Bennett Zummo and husband, Stephen Frank Zummo; the most wonderful grandchildren in all creation, Richmond Arthur Bennett II, Ella Katherine Bennett, Stephen Bennett Zummo, Oliver Howard Bennett, Russell Wayland Zummo, and Franklin Reimers Zummo; her beloved brother, John Charles Reimers and wife, Rebecca Kilpatrick Reimers; sister-in-law, Vicki Lynn Timmons and her husband, David Timmons; nieces and nephews, Jan Reimers George and husband, Rob; John Jefferson Reimers and wife, Kelly; Kelsey Rose Timmons; Lucy, Clarey and Tres George; and Tessa and Sabine Reimers.

She was reunited in heaven with her husband of 58 years, Richmond Bennett; her father, Arthur Francis Reimers; her mother, Martha Gaskin Reimers; and her parents-in-law, Richmond Oliver Bennett, Jr. and Loraine Kennedy Bennett.

Judie’s family wishes to extend their deep appreciation to Emily Velayo, Estela Colunga Catherine Hubilla, and Bobbie Wolfe.

In lieu of flowers, Judie’s family asks that memorial donations be made to Trinity Day School, PO Box 5247, Beaumont, Texas 77726; St. Anne Catholic School, 375 North 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702; or Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School, 5950 Kelly Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77707. To honor Judie, please reach out to a friend or family member you miss speaking to – this is your hint from God.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”  John 11:25-26.

A memorial service for Judie will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 8, 2025, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3430 Harrison Avenue, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.