Our beloved sister, friend and soror, Jo-Carolyn Goode,Jo-Carolyn Goode, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2025, in Sugar Land, Texas. The only daughter of the late Beverly Maddox and Lestine Goode, Jo-Carolyn was born on June 8, 1977, in Houston, Texas. Her life can be beautifully defined by four words: Faith, Friendship, Service, and Perseverance.
Jo,Jo, as most of her friends lovingly called her, came to know the Lord at an early age. It was this faith that carried her from Mount Corinth Missionary Baptist Church as a child to Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church (WABC) as a youth in the Chapel Choir and a dedicated adult. No matter where she traveled—whether covering a story for Houston Style Magazine, serving as Cadette co-leader for Girl Scouts of America at WABC, or pouring her time and heart into the Miss Black Texas USA Pageant and the Miss Black America Pageant—her faith always went with her. It guided her steps throughout her life.
JoJo was an early scholar at Wonderland Private School, now known as Beatrice Mayes Institute, where she attended from kindergarten through 7th grade. She credited Wonderland with developing her academic foundation and shaping her into a proud, confident young Black girl who believed she could achieve anything when maximum effort was applied. She played piano for many years, cheered for the Wonderland Gators, and danced competitively with Ms. Marie's Dance Studio. She continued her education at Westbury Christian School and graduated with Honors from Ross Sterling High School in 1995.
The proud graduate of Sterling traded in the Blue & White for the Purple & Gold of Prairie View A&M University, majoring in Biology. JoJo was an unapologetic Black woman who loved her culture deeply and thrived in it. In the fall of 1998, she followed in her mother's footsteps and joined the Divine Nine through the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
JoJo went on to become a devoted 27-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She was initiated into the Zeta Gamma Omega Chapter at Prairie View A&M University in the fall of 1998. Her desire to become an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman ran so deeply that it felt woven into her very DNA. Every step she took reflected the grace, excellence, and sisterhood she admired her entire life.
Upon graduation, she immediately joined her mother, Beverly, in the Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter, where she continued to serve the sorority that she deeply loved and cherished. Throughout her membership, JoJo held numerous leadership roles, including Corresponding Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Reporter to the Ivy Leaf, Historian, and Graduate Advisor for Gamma Psi Chapter at Texas Southern University. She also served on the Graduate Advisory Committee for Epsilon Lambda Chapter at the University of Houston central campus.
JoJo made significant contributions to the chapter, including multiple first-place scrapbooks and exhibits as chairperson, as well as earning numerous first-place individual awards. Her passion for digital engagement led her to serve as Social Media Chairperson for the South-Central Region.
After graduating from Prairie View A&M University, JoJo was accepted and attended Texas Southern University School of Pharmacy. However, health challenges required her to pivot, and it was then that she discovered her love for writing and journalism. This passion led her to Houston Style Magazine, where she served as Managing Editor for more than 25 years.
JoJo also loved the community and gave her heart, time, and energy to serving others. In 2022, she received the prestigious President's Lifetime Achievement Award from former president Joseph R. Biden in recognition of over 5,000 hours of service to our nation.
Jo-CarolynJo-Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Beverly Maddox and Lestine Goode.  Left to cherish her memory are her sisters, Judith Goode, Theresa Walls (Eric), and Leslie Williams (Levar); a host of nieces and nephews; goddaughter, Jasmine Chism; her AKA sisters; and many other beloved friends and colleagues. Her legacy will live forever in our hearts.
Jo'sJo's legacy endures not only through her family and her many friends, but also through the profound impact she made on every life she touched. She poured life, love, and tradition into all who knew her. She is loved, missed, and honored by all who were fortunate enough to cross her path.
No line name could have suited her more perfectly than "Braveheart." It embodied her strength, her spirit, and her unwavering courage. Today and always, she is cherished as a beloved and celebrated Ivy Beyond the Wall.