Berkeley Stevenson Stonebraker

Berkeley Stevenson Stonebraker, age 97, of Fayetteville, Georgia, was welcomed into her eternal home with the Lord on November 4, 2022. Berkeley was born in Petersburg, Virginia on January 30, 1925, daughter of the late Rev. Arthur L. and Mary B. Stevenson. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 59 years, Dr. Jean W. “Bill” Stonebraker, Sr., sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth and Claude Collins, brother Linwood Stevenson, daughter-in-law Bonnie Stonebraker, and grandson Paul Stonebraker. Those left to cherish her memory are her five children: son Bill Stonebraker Jr. and wife Chris Buckholdt of Spokane Valley, Washington; son Jim Stonebraker and wife Diane of Anchorage, Alaska; daughter Dorothy Edwards and husband Ronnie of Lawrenceville, Georgia; daughter Mary Page and husband Steve of Bristol, Tennessee; and son John Stonebraker and wife Dede of Fayetteville, Georgia. Berkeley also leaves behind 11 grandchildren: Erin Cary and husband Shawn, Mary McCooe and husband Patrick, Ellen Hesselbach and husband Kirk, Amy Gray and husband Ryan, Tricia McHugh and husband James, Ryan Stonebraker, Clint Edwards and wife Angel, Jennifer Edwards, Amanda Stonebraker and husband Daniel, Hannah Nishizaki and husband Daniel, David Stonebraker and wife Annika; 17 great-grandchildren: Ben Stonebraker, PJ Stonebraker, Nikki Rossman, Charlotte McCooe, Dylan McCooe, Hudson Hesselbach, Hadley Hesselbach, Hayden Hesselbach, Leighton Gray, Summer Gray, Riley Rose McHugh, Jeremiah Edwards, Elisha Edwards, Isaiah Edwards, Genesis Nishizaki, Benjamin Nishizaki, and Juniper Stonebraker; nieces and nephews: Pat Collins, Mary Beth Floyd, Lin Stevenson, Tom Stevenson, Linelle Rowland, and Lucy Ameigh; and sister-in-law Jean Stevenson. Deeply loved by her family, Berkeley will forever remain in our hearts. A graduate of Westminster Choir College (1947) and having earned a Master of Fine Arts in Music from the University of Georgia (1973), Berkeley was an accomplished organist and pianist. She enjoyed playing duets with her husband, Bill, teaching private piano and organ lessons, and serving as church organist/pianist in various churches across Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida from her early teens until her early 90s, faithfully sharing her love and joy for music. Heartily independent, Berkeley pursued life with extraordinary courage, boldness, and fearlessness. A devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, nothing brought Berkeley more joy than her family. She loved, served, and lived with an exceedingly gracious and generous spirit that immeasurably blessed those around her. Berkeley loved adventure, eagerly embraced new experiences, and with daring fortitude persevered through life’s most arduous adversities. Wholly grounded in her faith and relationship with God, Berkeley remained faithful, steadfast, and confident in the Lord. Berkeley cherished and, with great joy, served the Lord’s church. A woman of prayer and of the Holy Scriptures, Berkeley shared her faith through acts of kindness, words of encouragement, and with an indelible smile that instilled hope. Berkeley’s homegoing invokes immense sadness and, yet, is well deserved. Her earthly journey now complete, we anxiously await the day we will see her again. The family wishes to extend a very special word of thanks and appreciation to the staff of Heartis Senior Living for the loving care with which they served Berkeley and for the endearing friendships Berkeley enjoyed with each of them. The family also wishes to express their profound gratitude to the caregivers of Brightmoor Hospice and the staff at Piedmont Fayette Hospital for their exceptional and compassionate care shown to Berkeley and her family. Berkeley was a beloved member of Fayette Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, Georgia where she had many special friends. Please join the family for a memorial service celebrating and honoring Berkeley’s life on January 28th at 11:00 to be held at Fayette Presbyterian Church, 791 Highway 92 N, Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, donations to Fayette Presbyterian Church, Doctors Without Borders or Habitat for Humanity in memory of Berkeley would be appreciated.

Berkeley Stevenson Stonebraker

January 30, 1925 - November 4, 2022