On May 5, 1937, Jo Stella (Bumpers) Boggs was born to the late Joe Henry Bumpers and Bessie (Price) Bumpers in Enterprise, MS. She was the fourth born of nine children.

Jo Stella graduated from Shirley Owens High School at Quitman, MS in 1958. She furthered her career at Mississippi Valley State University where she received a degree in elementary education in 1963. She married Edward Earl Boggs and moved to Gulfport where she lived and raised her family. During this time, she joined Haven Chapel United Methodist Church under the pastorship of Rev. E. A. Mays. She also served as President-Chairman of the PPR Committee, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and Chairman of United Methodist Women.

She worked and retired from the Gulfport City school system for over 36 years. Her career assignments were at Gaston Point Elementary School, Central Elementary, Mississippi City Elementary and Anniston Avenue Elementary. She was a diligent and dedicated worker who often went above and beyond the call of duty to provide a quality education for her students. After retiring from the school system, she became a mentor with the Gulfport City School System and volunteered for the Voter Registration drive. Gardening was a favorite hobby of hers. She would sit and care for her plants for hours.

She was preceded in death by her husband Edward E. Boggs, two sisters and five brothers.

She leaves to cherish her memory a son, Dwain E. Boggs of Gulfport, MS; a daughter, Ivy La Shaun Boggs of Atlanta, GA; a grandson, Nicholas (Megan) Boggs of Tuscaloosa, AL; two great-grandchildren, Miles and Charlotte Boggs; one sister, Violet Deloris Martin of St. Louis, MO; one sister-in-law, Elouise Boggs of New Orleans, LA; best friend, Elsie Barnes of Gulfport, MS; three god-children, Alexis Jones and Brandon Moffett of Gulfport, MS and Michael Barkum, Jr. of Atlanta, GA; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.