Jo Beth Stoecker

Jo Beth Jordan Stoecker was born Nov. 14, 1948 to Bill and Mary Beth Jordan of Stone Mountain, GA. She was the third of four children: Mary Barton Lanford, William A. Jordan, and Jenny Jordan Owen. Jo Beth’s name was given to her by her mother, who loved the book Little Women and its characters Jo, who was spirited and bold, and Beth, who was the gentle peacemaker. Jo Beth grew up to exemplify these behaviors.

Jo Beth was a wife, a mother, a teacher, an artist, a musician, a giver of hope and life. She married John “Jay” Connelly Stoecker in 1972 and celebrated 54 years as his beloved wife. Jo Beth’s devotion to Jay was unsurpassed. She loved him unconditionally. Being a military family, the Stoeckers lived all over the United States, including California, Texas, Rhode Island, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

Jo Beth’s greatest influence was in being the mother of her three children: Christopher “Chris” Hans (Desiree), Benjamin “Ben” Connelly (Doriana), and Hannah Leigh. All three of her children are gifted with her sense of service to others and commitment to hard work. Jo Beth always had time to listen to her children’s struggles and requests, to share favorite stories and music, and attend to their needs. Her grandchildren, John William (Carsyn), Winston, Grace, and Dori (Chris), were a source of indescribable pride and joy to their Mama Jo.

Jo Beth attended public school in Stone Mountain and graduated from Druid Hills High School in Atlanta. While in high school, she studied piano music under Lucile Lanford and performed her personal classical recital. Jo Beth loved singing and could harmonize without difficulty, a talent that served her well when she later directed the chancel choir at Dahlonega First Methodist Church. Jo Beth was also an artist, painting in oils and sketching in charcoal. As a youth, Jo Beth journeyed each summer to New Hampshire to serve as a camp counselor at Camp Winnipesaukee (“smile of the great spirit”).

Jo Beth earned her baccalaureate degree from Georgia State University, where she majored in education. She taught in schools all over the states as she followed her Army Captain husband wherever he was stationed. Her first professional teaching experience came in Clayton County Schools while her husband served with the Army in Korea. Jo Beth’s second teaching job was in Palmdale, CA. As her career continued, she taught at Gainesville First United Methodist Church Preschool, at Lumpkin County Middle School, at Westminster Christian School in Gainesville, and finally at B.B. Harris Elementary in Gwinnett County. While there, she taught hundreds of students how to read and speak English as the ESOL instructor. These children held a special place in her heart, as they studied to learn the language of the society they lived in. In teaching, Jo Beth loved her students in a compassionate and committed way. She took food to homes of students who had none, as well as clothes to students who needed them.

Jo Beth is a name that suited her well. Jo for her compassion and steadfast determination and Beth for gentleness, kindness, sacrifice, and love.

Jo Beth is survived by her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and her three siblings. To her children and grandchildren, Mama Jo’s memory will be everlasting. She will be with them in spirit always. She will be missed as they wait with expectation for the time to be with her again.

The family will receive friends at Wages Funeral Home in Stone Mountain on Saturday, February 7th, from 6:00-8:00. The celebration of life service will be held at the Wages & Sons Stone Mountain Chapel 1040 Main Street, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083 on Sunday, February 8th, at 3 o’clock. Rev. Rob Lanford will officiate. Burial will be in the Stone Mountain Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged to your favorite charity or to Street Grace (https://www.streetgrace.org), a nonprofit organization working to eradicate the sexual exploitation of children.