On Friday, September 30, 1927, the baseball sports world was celebrating Babe Ruth’s historical accomplishment of hitting 60 home runs in one season. In Macon, Georgia, Rufus Rhodes Evans and his wife, Eugenia Galman Evans, welcomed a daughter, Jean. Like Babe Ruth, Jean Evans Weaver would go on to make her mark in the world as she taught and shared her love of dance with thousands of young men and women in Middle Georgia.
Ms. Weaver, a fifth generation Maconite, graduated from A. L. Miller High School in 1945. She studied at Wesleyan College before marrying William Jennings Weaver, Jr. in 1946. They became parents of four sons. Never wavering from her gift of teaching and dancing, she studied music, art and dance with local teachers. She trained at the New York School of Ballet and received her teacher training at the Royal Academy of Dance in Toronto and the Dance Educators of America training school at Western Kentucky University. In addition, she served as a choreographer with the Macon Little Theatre and numerous Civic Club productions.
In 1976 Ms. Weaver became the owner of Dance Arts Studio and served in that capacity until her retirement in 2016. In 1985 she spearheaded the founding of Nutcracker of Middle Georgia and became the Artistic Director, retiring at the end of the 2016 production. In 1996, she along with four other teachers founded the Middle Georgia Youth Ballet. This organization not only offered additional training experiences for area dancers but acted as a catalyst for educating local schools about the appreciation of classical ballet. In 2000 Ms. Weaver was presented the Macon Arts Alliance Cultural Award for significant contributions to the arts and cultural life of Macon and Bibb County. In 2010, she was recognized by the Macon Arts Alliance with the Rosalyn Elkan Lifetime Achievement Award.
After she retired, she spent her time working in her garden, reading and watching her beloved Atlanta Braves.
Ms. Weaver was preceded in death by her parents, son Rufus and younger sister, Emily (Bunky) Lowder. She is survived by her three sons, Billy (Windi) Weaver of Richland, SC, Charlie (Joan) Weaver of Bluffton, SC and Sam (Karen) Weaver of Savannah GA, daughter-in-law Barbara Anne Weaver of Bluffton, SC, three grandchildren, Casey (Buddy) Brinkley, Conor (Liz) Weaver and Will Weaver,one great granddaughter, one niece and one nephew. Additionally, she is survived by two dear friends who she considered as another son and a daughter, Rick Stinson and Marianna Gebara of Macon, GA.
As fate would have it, Ms. Weaver passed on World Ballet Day. This day is dedicated to honoring the art of ballet and the dancers who dedicate their lives to perfecting this beautiful craft. How fitting!
Visitation will be at Snow’s Memorial Chapel on Cherry Street Friday, November 11 from 4-6 PM. A Celebration of her Life will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, November 12, 2022 in Pierce Chapel at Wesleyan College. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the donor's favorite charity. Burial will be private.
Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express tributes.
Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.
