Dorothy Stephenson Fant

Dorothy Jeanne Stephenson Fant, “Dottie”, died peacefully on December 27, 2022 in her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. A Southside girl, Dottie walked to Hendricks Avenue Elementary School, often stopping for treats at Colonial Sundries on the way home. She graduated from DuPont High School, listening to Elvis and drinking Pepsis with peanuts with her sister and friends as they rode to and from school in Rattles, their antique station wagon. After earning her bachelors and masters degrees in education and counseling from Jacksonville University and the University of Florida respectively, she taught at Justina Road, Timucuan and Ortega Elementary schools where the students marveled at her Spencerian style of penmanship, which she learned from her father. Her Justina Road students loved Peter, her pet rabbit, that hopped around the classroom and went home with her on the weekends.

Dottie married the love of her life, Julian “Hickory” Fant, and was devoted to her twin children, Jennifer and Jay. Dottie and Hickory enjoyed much fellowship and fun with cherished friends, hosting parties, and even fishing and camping in the Okefenokee Swamp. She never turned down an opportunity to eat fresh crabs and oysters given the chance, often with her brother, Ted. Dottie also loved books and she read everything from Audubon to Yeats. She especially liked to read about anything her children and grandchildren were doing. Traveling and gardening, animals and sports, theology and history, home and hearth. Her room was a veritable book mine reflecting all the interests and love of her family. She particularly loved the mountains near Waynesville, North Carolina, and would always tow a box full of new titles from the public library along with one of her many Scrabble boards for friendly competition, which she almost always won. Dottie brightened up every room and we are so grateful for her smile and laughter, a truly wonderful wife, mother and ‘granddottie’.

Dottie was born February 19, 1941 in St. Augustine, Florida. She is predeceased by her parents, Theodore Darby Stephenson and Ouida Trammell Stephenson, and her brother, Theodore Darby Stephenson, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Hickory, her children, Jennifer Fant and Jay Fant (Lauren), four grandchildren, Julian (Jack) Fant IV, Radford Lovett Fant, Katharine (Kakki) Lovett Fant and Lauren Lovett Fant, her sister Lynne Stephenson Raiser of Atlantic Beach, Florida, her nephew Geoffrey Raiser (Kimberly), her niece Darby Delane and many beloved extended family and friends. The family also expresses gratitude to the staff at Ortega Gardens for the care and kindness shown to our “Dorothy Jeanne” this past year.

The family will be happy to receive friends and loved ones on January 11th, 2023 at 11am, Leatherbury Hall, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 4129 Oxford Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32210.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ted Stephenson Baseball Scholarship at the University of North Florida and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.