Janis Shackelford Stovall

Janice Marie (Shackelford) Stovall, 73, of Hull, GA, passed away surrounded by her husband and children September 24, 2020 following a long battle with multiple health issues. Janis was born to the late Walter Arthur and Ethelyn Louise (McClain) Shackelford on October 15, 1946 in Athens, GA. She met Robert Dwaine Stovall while both were working at General Times Athens – West Clox General Times Cooperation in Athens, GA and were married at Vineyards Creek Baptist Church in Comer, GA on August 30, 1969 and were married for 51 years. Janis and Robert welcomed 3 children into the world in 1972 and 1974. Janis is survived by her husband Robert and their three children :Melanie Renee Cruse (Scott) of Canton, GA, Jeffery Glenn Stovall (Meghan) of Ridgefield, WA, and Jenifer Marie Wallace (Darrell) of Comer, GA. Janis is also survived by six grandchildren: Clinton Henry Garrett, Camille Marie Garrett, Emily Frances Cruse, Evan Scott Cruse, Madeleine Marie Stovall, and Aubri Camton Wallace. Janis graduated from Madison County High School in 1964. After high school but before attending college, Janis spent time in the AmeriCorps VISTA program that was founded in 1965. She worked and traveled throughout the southeast, midwest, and southwest on American Indian Reservations local to those areas. She held a BSEd in Special Education from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Education in Special Education from Brenau University. She retired from the Madison County School System in 2008 after working in many different capacities throughout the years with her footprint and legacy extending into all of its schools both past and present. One of her greatest passions in life was teaching children to read and passing on her love of language and story telling through the written word. Jan always held a witty sense of humor, even when times were hard. She enjoyed western movies and maintained a love of horses, cats, and almost any wildlife she encountered. She had been active with the Native American Cultural Society in Athens and helped organized local events during the 1996 Olympics’ for the group. She had an uncanny ability to tame almost any animal she ever met. Jan was an accomplished seamstress who used her talent and skills to make her own wedding dress and many pieces of clothing for her family and friends throughout the years. She always had a knack for crafting, jewelry making, painting, and sketching. Jan often said she dreamed in color and was always visualizing her next project. Throughout her children’s childhood, she was active volunteer in her children’s classrooms and led the first Girl Scout Troop in Madison County during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Janis touched many lives. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. To honor her memory, her family is hosting a book drive for the libraries and classrooms of the students in the Madison County School System. For additional details, please contact Melanie Cruse at crusemel@windstream.net.