Joan Askew Stevenson

Mrs. Stevenson was born on August 7, 1934, in Nashville, Tennessee to John Clarence Askew, Jr., a distinguished lawyer and judge, and Doris Wilson Askew. Her childhood years were spent happily in Nashville with her family, including a sister, Anne Askew, who predeceased her. A member of the first graduating class of the Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, Mrs. Stevenson continued her education at Vanderbilt University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1956. At Vanderbilt, in addition to her academic pursuits, she served as president of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, led the cheerleading team as captain, and was elected Miss Vanderbilt.

After college, Mrs. Stevenson moved to Atlanta and took up a teaching position at Morris Brandon elementary school. In Atlanta, a friend from Nashville introduced her to a young stockbroker, Frank G. Stevenson, Jr., whom she wed after a short courtship. Their marriage spanned forty-six wonderful years until Mr. Stevenson’s passing in 2003.

Mrs. Stevenson was a devoted mother to the couple’s three children, as well as a doting grandmother and great-grandmother.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Stevenson was passionate about her Christian faith and maintained a keen interest in local and national politics.

In 1980, Mrs. Stevenson opened and managed, for ten years, the Atlanta shop of the interior design company Pierre Deux French Country, capitalizing on her love and knowledge of antiques and the decorative arts.

An avid reader, Mrs. Stevenson lived a rich cultural life and travelled extensively with her family, particularly in Europe, where her son resides in Paris, France, and Lisbon, Portugal.

Mrs. Stevenson is survived by her children, Kathryn Senkbeil (and son-in-law Jim Senkbeil), Karen Kennedy and John Stevenson, her grandchildren Jake Senkbeil, Sarah Kate Lacy, Callie Kennedy and Graham Kennedy, and her great-grandchildren Jack Senkbeil, Frances Lacy and Ben Lacy.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 17 at 2 p.m. at H.M. Patterson & Son – Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4450 Peachtree Road NE in Atlanta. A reception will follow the service at the same location. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Otis Jackson Scholarship Fund of the Buckhead Rotary Foundation (FEI # 58-2045173), Greg Davis, President, 150 Parkview Trace Pass SE, Lilburn, Georgia 30047.