Evelyn "Gerry" Stern

Evelyn “Gerry” Stern passed away at home in Dallas, TX, on November 19, 2020, at the age of 90. Born in 1930 in Gadsden, AL, Gerry was the only child of Clyde and Ethel Stanfield. A child of the depression, Gerry and her family knew deprivation when she was a child, and this and the early loss of her mother to mental illness shaped her character, leading her to become the quietly determined and stubbornly stoical adult she was. Her determination to make a better life led her to seek a professional education. Having graduated from Emma Sansom High School in 1948, Gerry left Gadsden to enter the Charity Hospital School of Nursing in New Orleans, from which she graduated as an RN in 1951. While in nursing school, she met and fell in love with her future husband, Charles Stern, at the time a medical student at LSU. They married in 1955, after Charles had returned from service in Korea, and lived in California until Charles was discharged from the Navy in 1956.

After a three year stay once again in New Orleans while Charles completed his ophthalmology residency, Gerry and her growing family of two children and a third on the way moved to Natchez, MS, in 1959. In Natchez she made herself into an unassuming pillar of the community. Seemingly tireless, she served as founder of Professional Optical Co., as a nurse assisting Charles with office surgeries, a frequent contributor to the PTA at Carpenter #2, Braden and Montebello schools, president of Temple B’nai Israel, a member of the Natchez Garden Club, president of the Temple B’nai Israel Sisterhood twice , a volunteer and board member at the Natchez Children’s Home, long-time member of the Natchez Medical Auxiliary (now the Medical Alliance) and twice its president, board member of the Natchez City Cemetery, advisor to the Temple B’nai Israel youth group, a long-serving volunteer and board member at the Natchez Adams County Humane Society which named her an “Unsung Hero” in 1995, and a surrogate parent to the friends of her own children.

In 1984 Gerry was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, but characteristically she confronted the grim prognosis with steely resolve and lived a full and mostly well life for the next 35 years. Her parents and her aunt, whom she considered a mother, Dorothy Fox, preceded her in death. Gerry is survived by her husband, Charles, her children David (Allison) Stern of Tampa, FL, Sandra Brackenridge of Corinth, TX, and Steven Stern of Dallas, seven grandchildren--Jennifer Brackenridge Velasco, Caitlin Stern, Rachel Brackenridge, Nathan Stern, Jacob Stern, Jonathan Stern and Eric Stern, and six great grandchildren—Mason Velasco, Hayden Velasco, Evelin Pires, Sofia Pires, Alexander Stern and Naomi Stern. The family especially offers its thanks to Kathy Clark for her loving care during Gerry’s illness.

The private funeral service will be graveside, with burial at the Dallas National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Natchez Adams County Humane Society, Delgado Charity School of Nursing or another charity of one’s choice.