Athena Shaver O'Kon

29 December 2018

Athena Shaver O’Kon was as beautiful as her name. She looked like a young Ava Gardner, only prettier. With big blue eyes, dark hair and an olive complexion, she was a thing of beauty, throughout her life.

The aptly named Athena came to Atlanta in 1959 when she was 19 years old, to live with her grandmother and to find adventure and a new life in the big city. Athena used to joke that she moved to Atlanta from L.A. – Lower Alabama. Although her life would take her to many exotic locations, she never lost her deep Southern roots.

Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, she arrived in Atlanta ready to set the world on fire. She got her first job at Thompson Boland Lee on Peachtree Street, Atlanta’s premiere shoe store in downtown Atlanta. The college boys who worked there, among them Alvin Sugarman, later to be the wise and wonderful rabbi at The Temple, and Paul Zwicknagel, a Marist alum, both had crushes on the beautiful girl named for a Greek goddess.

Athena was soon lured away to work at JP Allen, one of Atlanta’s finest department stores at the time. Modeling the latest fashions at JP Allen was a big step up for the young girl from Tuscaloosa.

“I remember the first time I saw Athena,” said former sister-in-law, Mary O’Kon Stimmel. “My brother brought Athena home for Sunday dinner to meet the family and she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever met. I was a student at UGA at the time and there were bevies of beauties there, but Athena was in a class by herself.”

Athena married early, had one son and one daughter and lived in New York, Spain, Mexico and Belize, ultimately returning to Atlanta in the 1970’s.

Born with a great love for animals and plants, Athena spent much of her life loving both. Plants were an enduring passion and she had a natural green thumb. Her houses were always full of house plants and vines, bringing her love of nature indoors. She loved spending long days outside in the garden – much more than inside. Athena would go to abandoned gardens and dig up flowers and plants which she would then share with friends and family. She looked for native plants and traditional garden favorites, some of which were nearly lost, and would rescue those old Southern favorites.

And the animals! Athena had many beloved pets and especially dogs throughout her life, from Barney the Dalmatian, to her granddaughter Kira’s Havanese, Cutie. Her favorite dog was Sable her devoted black lab, who she affectionally called Saby baby. She passed her great love of animals on to both of her children and Kira.

Athena also adored the beach. She spent many summers vacationing with her children on the islands of the Eastern Shore of Virginia – Chincoteague and others and had fond memories of those happy days.

In her later years, Athena spent winters on the Gulf Coast with her dearly beloved sister, Diane, who preceded her in death. Together they would walk the beach, collecting shells and enjoying sister time in their favorite place.

“She was a bright spot in the world,” Carl Stimmel said. And indeed, Athena could light up any room, just by walking in.

The world got a little bit dimmer on Saturday, December 29, when Athena left us after a lengthy battle with dementia. Born on September 2, 1940 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Athena was the daughter of Mamie Haynie Woelkers and Horace Shaver, both of whom preceded her in death.

Athena is survived by her son, Sean Fitzgerald O’Kon, daughter Shannon O’Kon Francklin (Michael) and beloved granddaughter, Kira McGaugh Francklin. She lived with her daughter, Shannon, for many years and was a full-time grandmother for Kira, who she loved and cared for very deeply. In addition to her children, Athena will be missed by her brother Jimmy Webster and by her many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family of Athena O’Kon will receive friends and family on Sunday, January 13, 2019 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at H.M. Patterson and Son’s Spring Hill Chapel, 1020 Spring Street, Atlanta, GA 30309. A memorial service will follow, beginning at 4:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to: The William Breman Jewish Home, 3150 Howell Mill Road Atlanta, GA 30327.