Mrs. Elizabeth Joan Yoe, 99, of Columbus, GA. peacefully passed away in her sleep at Spring Harbor Assisted Living, November 10, 2021. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Parkhill Cemetery.
Mrs. Yoe was born in Milledgeville, GA. on July 7, 1922, to Mr. Samuel John DeWitt and Emma Louise Morris DeWitt. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Mr. Samuel DeWitt, Jr., and loving husband, Lionel Meredith Yoe, MD, an ophthalmologist and plastic surgeon.
She attended Georgia State College for Women (GSCW) in Milledgeville, GA. There she earned a degree in education and her love of art grew. She attended school with Southern Gothic author, Flannery O’Connor and was asked to illustrate some of her stories and other college publications; many still in the archives of GSCW.
Professionally, she was an illustrator for Sears, Roebuck and Co., and Davison’s, where she created fashion sketches for their catalogs. In addition to illustrating for Sears and Davison’s, she also illustrated and designed for the Atlanta Lithograph Company, Department of Public Health, Russell Stover Candy Company, and various jewelers.
After World War II, Joan met Lionel Meredith Yoe while he was at Emory University preparing for Medical School at the Medical College of Georgia. They married in Atlanta, GA and the couple moved to Columbus, GA in 1955 where Dr. Yoe set up his medical practice.
Mrs. Yoe was a brilliant artist having won many accolades in Georgia and across the country for her paintings. She taught art to many Columbus residents for over 30 years. Several of her works were chosen to be in national watercolor exhibits. She was also commissioned by various authors to create illustrations for their manuscripts including Jane Dillard Knight’s, “Through My Watching Window.” One of her paintings was bought and hung in the governor’s mansion in Atlanta. She studied under many national and international artists. She was a member of the Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma Watercolor Societies, Southern Watercolor Society, and the American Watercolor Society.
As a Signature member of the Columbus Artists’ Guild, she won first place for her painting ‘Potatoes Sprouting’ in 2010 and, in 2007 she received The Molly and Claude Scarbrough Award for her painting titled, ‘Silence’.
She was a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church, The Daughters of the American Revolution, Columbus Garden Club, The Country Club of Columbus, and Big Eddy Club. She loved nature, horse riding, cats, sewing, books, and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Yoe is survived by her four children, Mr. Lionel Meredith Yoe, Jr, of Columbus, Dr. William Thomas Yoe of Columbus, his wife Vicki Russell Yoe, Robert Stanley Yoe, LDO of Powder Springs, GA., his wife Sheena Lawrence Yoe, and Mrs. Julie Yoe Stenger of Douglasville, GA. Mrs. Yoe leaves behind her grandchildren, Mrs. Jennifer Le’An Yoe-Gaddy, of Weaverville, NC., her husband Rick Gaddy, Mr. Robert Asa Yoe of Forest Park, GA., Mr. Russell Morris Yoe of Milton, GA, and Mrs. Virginia Elizabeth Driver Sullivan of Smyrna, GA., her husband Will Sullivan, Miss Alexandra Leigh Stenger of Marietta, GA., and Mr. Noah Bryson Lawrence of Powder Springs, GA. She also leaves behind great-grandchildren Aurelia Le’Vick Gaddy and Leiorah Josephine Gaddy of Weaverville, N.C.
A quote from Joan on art: “You have the power to cancel the world’s distraction and noise and become fit to hear the essence of things.”
