Lovedia “Dee” Stewart Snow

Mrs. Lovedia “Dee” Stewart Snow, age 89, of Gainesville, Ga., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, after an extended illness.

Mrs. Snow was born in Broadway, N.C., to J.K. and Mary Lou McPhail Stewart. As the 9th of 12 children, she graduated from Boone Trail High School in 1944 and from High Point College, High Point, N.C., in 1948.

During her 26-year career in education, she taught 2nd through 6th grades.  After teaching for five years in Lillington, N.C., her love of travel led her to apply to teach in Europe. As one of three teachers from the state chosen for the program, she taught for a year at a middle school near Bitberg, Germany.  She met her future husband, James A. Snow, then of Trion, Ga., while he was in the Air Force and stationed at nearby Spangdahlem Air Base.  They returned to the U.S., and married on Dec. 21, 1954 in Broadway, N.C.

While her husband completed his education degree at The University of Georgia, they lived in  Athens, and she continued teaching.  Her husband’s student teaching position at Gainesville High School brought the couple to Hall County in the mid-1950s.  After several years at Miller Park Elementary, she stopped work outside the home while her son and daughter were young. She returned to the classroom in 1975 at Candler Street Elementary.  She also taught at Main Street School, was named Enota Elementary’s Teacher of the Year in 1981, and finished her career at Enota in 1989. 

Her community and civic involvement mirrored her interests.  A lifelong Methodist, she joined Gainesville First United Methodist Church soon after moving to town and was C.O.M.E.T. Sunday School class member for almost 60 years.  Her other church activities included teaching children’s Sunday School; volunteering with the Sunshine Class, a class for special needs children; serving in Mission Action and making craft items for the annual Bazaar; taking Bible study classes and chairing the Congregational Care committee.  She loved the Lord and her church and attended faithfully every Sunday for decades. 

Her connection with the Gainesville Evening Optimist Club began as an Opti-Mrs. member in the early 1960s and later as an Optimist Club member. She became a lifetime member in 2000 and enjoyed many trips with her husband to annual conventions across the U.S. and Canada.  Every holiday season for years included selling Christmas trees and wreathes.  Her other activities included volunteering for Good News at Noon, Guest House, Gateway House and attending Retired Educators Association and Modern Topics Study Club meetings, and, years ago, going on trips with the local Bank Travel Club.

Though she never lived in N.C. after marrying, she was very close to her family and enjoyed annual trips to her home place and to her brothers’ cabin at North Topsail Beach, N.C.  Many of her favorite memories and stories involved family and old and new close friends.

Mrs. Snow is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her son, James Albert “Al” Snow, Jr., of Roswell; daughter and son-in-law Marsha and Thomas “Ted” White and children, Thomas “T.J.” and Andy of Canton; sisters-in-law Nona Snow of Summerville, Ga.; Fannie Stewart of Wilmington, N.C.; and Faye Stewart and Dorothy Stewart of Broadway, N.C. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at 3 p.m. at Gainesville First United Methodist Church.  The Rev. Kathy Lamon will officiate. The family will receive friends on Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, from 5 - 8 p.m. at Little and Davenport Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd., Gainesville, GA 30506.  Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at littledavenport.com

Little Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory 355 Dawsonville Hwy Gainesville, Ga. 30501