Joanne B. Slaymaker

The Slaymaker and Bowers families mourn the loss of Joanne Bowers Slaymaker (Jodie). She died early in the morning of December 9th at the age of 92 after an extended illness. She lived all of her life in Nashville, attended West High School and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University, where she met her husband, Horace Roy Slaymaker (1927-2018).

While raising a family of six children, she found time to be active in the Nashville community. Through her association with the Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee, The Garden Club of Nashville, The Herb Society of Nashville, and Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, her interest in gardening blossomed. With help from her husband, she laid out a nationally recognized perennial garden, as well as other garden plots including local wildflowers, herbs, a knot garden, and a greenhouse to nurture the extensive variety of flowering plants. She nurtured a loving family that includes five surviving siblings, Paul Slaymaker, Maggie Parker, Chris Slaymaker, Brad Slaymaker, and Emily Morrissey. Five grandchildren - Brett Parker, Emma Slaymaker, and Nick, Laney and Lisey Morrissey - and her brother, Robert Bowers also survive her.

The family will hold a private memorial service at Saint George’s Church.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Maxwell Ebanks and Athena Springer for the devotion and love shown to their mother during her stay at Brookdale Cumberland Green Hills.