Jo Ann Stephens Gordon

Jo Ann Stephens Gordon passed away peacefully after many years of extended illness. She was born in Atlanta, GA to the late Arine and Paul Stephens. Growing up she played the clarinet and was a majorette at Bass High School, where she met Robert W. “Bobby” Gordon. They were married for over 50 years.

She was a wonderful wife and enjoyed going on trips to the beach with her family in the summertime and up to the north Georgia mountains with her husband each fall during apple season. In recent years, these trips were replaced with brief car rides to a duck pond.

Jo Ann was an accounting clerk for Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) until her early retirement. She was a wonderful mom and her kids’ biggest cheerleader, actively serving as a classroom mom, sports team mom, and chaperone for school trips. She was an amazing nana to her grandkids and loved them immensely.

In her spare time, she was a master baker, making beautiful cakes for weddings and birthdays and special cookies for family and friends. Her giving to others continued outside the kitchen. Jo Ann was known for crocheting holiday pins and blankets. She donated blankets to The Linus Project which provides handmade blankets to ill children and those in need.

Jo Ann became visually impaired in her mid-30’s due to a brain tumor and was able to adapt her baking and crocheting skills so she could continue to share with others. She was a survivor of heart attacks, breast cancer, and strokes facing each of her health challenges with dignity and bravery.

Above all, she will be remembered for her generous spirit and her love of life, walks on the beach, and holiday celebrations.

In addition to her parents, she was recently preceded in death by her brother William P. “Billy” Stephens.

Her memory is celebrated by her surviving family - husband Robert W. Gordon, daughter Cynthia (Benjamin) Mokotoff, son Robert P. (Laura) Gordon, granddaughter Savannah Gordon and grandson Nolan Gordon, sister Mary (Larry) Gilbert, and many siblings-in-law, nieces, and nephews, several of whom she served as their godmother.

Our family extends our deepest and heartfelt thanks to the teams at Heartis in Fayetteville, Southern Grace Hospice, and Brightmoor Hospice for their loving care and support.

A visitation to receive family and friends will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 3:00 – 5:00 PM at Horis A. Ward Fairview Chapel, 376 Fairview Road, Stockbridge, GA. A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 1865 Highway 20 E., McDonough, GA

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jo Ann Gordon’s memory to the Center for the Visually Impaired (www.cviga.org).