Susan Jann Stewart

We gather today in remembrance and celebration of a truly remarkable woman—Susann Jann Steinmann, born May 16, 1948, in Chattanooga, TN, and peacefully passed on July 3, 2025, in Tallahassee, FL, at the age of 77.

Susann lived a full, vibrant life—one marked by immense creativity, compassion, intelligence, and devotion to those she loved. From a young age, it was clear that Susann had an extraordinary gift for the arts. At Girls Preparatory School, GPS, she shined in drawing, sculpture, painting, Latin, and writing. Later at Brainerd High School, she continued to distinguish herself as president of the Student Council, editor of the school paper, a member of the National Honor Society, and a passionate participant in countless after-school activities.

Her journey in the arts continued at Auburn University, in Auburn, AL, where she immersed herself in oil painting, sculpture, pen and ink and figure drawings. She was a true artist in every sense of the word—her works are still displayed in the homes of collectors, friends, and loved ones who cherish both their beauty and the warmth of the woman who created them. In 1973, she even held her own art show in Eastridge, TN—a proud moment in a life filled with creative accomplishments.

Professionally, Susann served as a talented art director at the Carpet and Rug Institute, CRI, in Dalton, GA. But it was in the role of mother that she truly found her life’s masterpiece. She stepped away from her career to raise her two beloved daughters—Stephanie Lauren Steinmann and Erin Elizabeth White—with all the love, intention, and care that only a mother like Susann could give. She poured herself into motherhood, and her daughters are a living reflection of her strength, kindness, and grace.

Susann’s love for beauty was not just in what she created with her hands, but how she lived—her faith, her humor, her compassion, and her ability to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. She often credited her creativity to the gifts God, her Savior, placed within her—and she used those gifts generously.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul William Steinmann and Rebecca Sue Casey Steinmann.

She is survived by her daughters, Stephanie Lauren Steinmann of Tallahassee, FL and Erin Elizabeth White of Lake Lure, NC; her cherished grandsons, Mason and Preston White of Cape Coral, FL; her dear sister, Becky Perry of Commerce, GA; and her loving cousins, Marsha Grant, Pam Cole, Drue Shook, and Kim Stevens.

In her final year, Susann found joy and peace in the sunshine of Tallahassee, FL, spending precious time with her eldest daughter Stephanie.

To know Susann was to be loved by her, to be welcomed into a space of creativity, warmth, and deep sincerity. She leaves behind not just memories, but a legacy of grace and art and unconditional love. Her spirit lives on in every brushstroke she ever made, every laugh she shared, and every heart she touched.

We will miss her deeply. But we give thanks today for the gift of her life, and for the love she so freely gave.

Per Susann’s wishes, there will be a Graveside Service only, on Friday, July 18, 2025 at 12:30 pm at Chattanooga Memorial Park Cemetery, 501 Memorial Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415.

Visitors and flowers are welcome, as we honor a life so beautifully lived.

Arrangements entrusted to Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services Franklin-Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37404, 423-265-4414.

Please visit our website to share your memories of Susan: www.advantagefranklin-strickland.com