Josephine G. Bourgeois

Jo spent time with her family in Barcelona, Spain as a child. The family fled to Detroit when the City fell to Franco. In Detroit, at age 11, she met her best friend Betty Robinson Whistler, and the two remained friends for life. Jo and Betty attended the University of Michigan together, both receiving full scholarships. Later, while working on her masters at UCLA, they both got married on the same day, in the same church.

Jo moved to Tallahassee with her family in 1964. She taught at several local schools, including Cobb Middle School and Tallahassee Community College. She taught Spanish and other subjects at Leon High School, where she was awarded the title of Florida Master Teacher. At Leon High, she was an active sponsor of the Exchangettes, Spanish club, Tallahassee-Popayan student exchange, and other student clubs and activities.

Jo Bourgeois was witty, intelligent, outgoing and outspoken, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew her. She loved art, movies, and plays, and was a formidable Scrabble player. She is preceded in death by her parents, Valeriano and Carmen Gomez of Spain; and her husband, Dr. Louis C. Bourgeois of Opelousas, Louisianna. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her daughter Carmen Bourgeois Greene (Gerald); son Louis Robert Bourgeois (Marie); and grandchildren Andrew Green, and Jake, Shelby, Maya and Logan Bourgeois.

The family will receive visitors at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home on Timberlane Road at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, and a memorial service will be held in the MeadowWood chapel at 3:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32308.