Joan Stewart Gillespie

Joan Stewart Gillespie passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 after a long and courageous battle with end stage renal disease. She was truly a hero and loved and admired by so many people. She was born on June 15, 1947 to John Ralph and Katie Mae Stewart. She was proud to say that she was born on Father's Day. Her life was full of faith, love and laughter. The most important thing in this world to her was her family.
Joan was born in Athens, Georgia and grew up in Devil's Pond in Oglethorpe County. She graduated from Oglethorpe County High School in 1965. In August of the same year, she married the love of her life, Ronnie Gillespie. Life took them on many adventures, from time in the Air Force to life as a truck driving family. This life took them to Key West, Florida, Panama City, Florida and they spent many years in Dallas, Texas. They settled back in the Athens area in 1990 and eventually moved to Watkinsville. They celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary in August of 2012.
She is survived by her husband Ronnie Gillespie, daughter and son-in-law, Christina (Gillespie) and John Autry. She was blessed with three beautiful grandchildren: Stephanie Amanda, Gillian Kate, and Jacob Wayne Autry. The family all reside in Watkinsville. She is also survived by her sisters Carolyn Gillespie Dudley of Arnoldsville and Edna Stewart of Crawford; brother Coile (Glenda) Stewart of Crawford and sister-in-law Dot Ogle of Winterville. Joan was also blessed with 20 nieces and nephews and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. It made her so happy to spend time with all of her loved ones and to do what she loved most: to laugh. She is preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Peggy Stewart and two brothers, Edward and Talmadge Stewart, brother-in-law Reese Gillespie, as well as her father and mother-in-law, Grady and Flora Gillespie.
The family will receive visitors at the funeral home on Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 7-9 P.M. The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 15, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. at Lord and Stephens, East. Interment will follow at Athens Memory Gardens. Nephews will serve as pallbearers.
Lord and Stephens, East is in charge of arrangements.